BRONTE, Texas – The Bronte Volunteer Fire Department will purchase three new breathing units to provide clean air to firefighters in emergency situations, thanks to a $19,690 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $4,923 in matching funds, will help the department replace outdated equipment used by firefighters when responding to fires and other emergencies. Self-contained breathing apparatuses protect firefighters from smoke and carcinogenic exposure by providing portable units of compressed air they can carry with them.
“The last couple of years we’ve been pretty busy and have had to use this equipment often,” said Capt. Kolby Lee. “During the ice storm, we had two working structure fires in one day and we’re working with current equipment that is over 10 years old. We’re in need of new SCBAs.”
Bronte VFD’s coverage area includes Bronte and the communities of Robert Lee, Blackwell and Tennyson in Coke County through mutual aid agreements. The department is supported by donations and has been unable to hold its normal fundraising events because of the pandemic, Lee said.
“We’re usually the first ones called for mutual aid for all emergencies,” Lee said. “We’re a small town and all of our members are volunteer, so it’s pretty awesome to get this grant and be able to buy new equipment. It’s good for our guys and our department to have the safest equipment available to them when responding to emergencies.”
The community grant is one of 25 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. 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; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations. For more information, visit lcra.org.
Media Contact
Clara Tuma
512–578–3292
clara.tuma@lcra.org
