A Christmas Tale, Part II
In Part I of this series, I touch on how blessed residents of unincorporated Harris County are to have at the ready to serve them so many fire and emergency medical responder agencies. All have the skilled staff and functioning equipment to take care of any requests for help that those residents may have.
But what if you didn't live in one of the most populous counties in the entire nation? What if, say, you resided in a small, rural county that did not have the means to support high level emergency protection? For example, this county's fire protection services were funded by voluntary donations, raffles, bake sales, etc. With the cost of a new fire truck in today's market pushing up to almost one million dollars, that type of purchase is out of the question. Most likely, that fire department is looking to buy a 20 year old or older fire truck from an agency that is replacing it with newer. While a lot less money to outlay, there is that risk of problems inherent in the 20 year old apparatus. In addition, paying personnel to stand ready at the fire station is unheard of due to cost and, with fewer responses than a larger county, an inefficient spending of funds. Fire fighters respond to the station from their homes, work, or wherever and that may use up valuable time. In addition, that older fire truck may not be able to travel as swiftly as a new one to the fire. Where you live determines if your burning home is saved or not.
Back in 2021, ESD 47 and Westlake VFD, through a chance meeting, formed a friendship with an ESD of meager means in Limestone County. Their annual income through taxation was around $100,000. Most of the area is agricultural based. After paying for fuel, truck maintenance, and fire station utilities, there wasn't much funding left. Their ESD president contacted me and we began a dialogue. It just so happended that at that time we had a ten year old chevy Tahoe coming available. Texas law allows (and encourages)emergency responder agencies to "gift" to others within the state such things as vehicles and equipment and, since it's market value was very low, we passed the Tahoe to them. They turned it into a combination command/rehab truck that makes responses in their part of the county. Seeing the good, neighboring VFD's in Limestone asked this ESD to put them in contact with us. Accordingly in the time since, ESD 47/Westlake also gifted a fifteen year old pickup truck and another Tahoe to other Limestone County VFD's. These trucks have gotten new life while helping agencies with little or no funding obtain much needed vehicles. Finally, we are having discussions about selling a no longer needed piece of apparatus to yet another VFD in Limestone County. Again, all of this made possible through a chance meeting and conversation. Truly, Christmas has come to several Limestone County VFD’s in a big way for them.
This will be the last post of mine to appear here on this website. However, my writings will continue on my personal facebook page and are intended to post around the first of every month, beginning in February.
Until then, stay safe!
Brian Havran