LCRA and City of Lampasas representatives present a $25,000 grant to the Lampasas Volunteer Fire Department for new handheld radios. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Robert Resa, firefighter; Josh Straley, firefighter; Lori A. Berger, LCRA Board member; Colton Baker, firefighter; Joe Adams, captain; Finley DeGraffenried, city manager; Reece Oestreich, fire chief; Randy Lake, assistant fire chief; and Steve Dyer, LCRA Governmental and Regional Affairs representative.
The Lampasas Volunteer Fire Department soon will purchase new, state-of-the-art handheld radios for its firefighters thanks to a $25,000 community development grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Lampasas.
The grant, along with $30,500 in matching funds, will allow Lampasas VFD to buy 14 new radios to replace outdated analog radios with digital ones that will provide better communication and allow for better coordination during emergencies.
“These new radios will really up our game in terms of improving emergency services to the public, as well as helping to keep our responders safe,” said Fire Chief Reece Oestreich. “Communication is the most important tool we have in the firefighting profession; without it, you can be working an event and lacking information that is vital to the safety of yourself and the people you are trying to help. These new radios will let us talk with other fire departments, police departments, sheriff’s offices and emergency medical services – unifying all emergency service providers responding to an accident.”
Lampasas VFD provides emergency services to about 25,000 people in an area of about 714 square miles in Lampasas County. The department also provides mutual aid to cities in neighboring Burnet County.
“We have to get real-time situation updates when we go to accidents or fires so we know if someone is already on the scene to help, if the conditions are getting worse, and the status of our responders,” Oestreich said. “Going into an emergency situation blind is a huge disadvantage that can put our firefighters at risk and add to the time it takes to help those in need.”
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. The City of Lampasas 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.
Media Contact
Clara Tuma
512–578–3292
clara.tuma@lcra.org
Source: LCRA Business News
