LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative representatives present a $16,000 grant to McMahan Volunteer Fire Department for safety equipment. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Rick Arnic, LCRA Governmental and Regional Affairs representative; Walt Joaquin, firefighter; Brian McNabb, VFD chief; Barbara Decker, firefighter; Herb Decker, firefighter; Linda White, VFD support; Stramer White, firefighter; Lori A. Berger, LCRA Board member; Chris White, firefighter; Milton Shaw, Bluebonnet director; Joyce Buckner, Bluebonnet representative; Helen Eaton, VFD support; Johnny Miranda, VFD assistant chief; and Johnny Sanders, Bluebonnet representative.
The McMahan Volunteer Fire Department will soon have new personal protection equipment thanks to a $16,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.
The grant, along with $4,000 in matching funds, will allow the department to replace damaged suits, and purchase combination suits designed to be used in both wildland fires and motor vehicle accident extrication.
McMahan VFD President Reid Davidson said the equipment materials break down over time due to heat exposure and other hazards.
“New suits were needed in order to keep our firefighters safe,” Davidson said. “The wildland personal protective equipment, for example, is reaching the end of its shelf life. This is an urgent concern because as a rural fire department, we respond to many wildland fires. The new combination and structure fire protective equipment will allow us to more effectively respond to the needs of the communities we serve.”
McMahan VFD offers fire protection to about 2,500 residents in the towns of McMahan and Tilmon, and all other parts of Caldwell County, as requested.
The community grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. The program provides economic development and community assistance grants to cities, counties, volunteer fire departments, regional development councils and other nonprofit organizations in LCRA’s wholesale electric and water service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and a partner in the grant program.
Applications for the next round of grants are due Jan. 31. More information is available at
lcra.org/cdpp.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; ensuring a clean, reliable water supply; and offering access to nature at more than 40 parks, recreation areas and river access sites along the Texas Colorado River, from the Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to enhancing the lives of Texans through water stewardship, energy and community services. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934. For more information, visit
lcra.org.
About Bluebonnet
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of the largest electric cooperatives in Texas and has been serving its members since 1939. Bluebonnet serves nearly 95,000 meters and owns and maintains more than 11,000 miles of power lines, located across more than 3,800 square miles within 14 Central Texas counties. Bluebonnet’s service area stretches from Travis County to Washington County, and from Milam County to Gonzales County. For more information about Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, go to
bluebonnet.coop and follow the co-op on Facebook and Twitter.
Media Contact
Clara Tuma
512–578–3292
clara.tuma@lcra.org
Source: LCRA Business News
