Texas A&M Forest Service recently approved $29.3 million in funding for grants to Texas volunteer fire departments through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. Several local departments were among the recent awardees. In the fourth funding round of the year, the program awarded 531 grants addressing volunteer fire department requests for personal protective equipment, … Continue reading Texas A&M Forest Service issues grants to area VFDs
Tag: Fire
‘Smash & Dash’ vendor deadline is June 15
Whitney Fire Rescue will continue accepting vendor applications for its first annual Smash and Dash event through Monday, June 15. The downtown event, which includes a 5K, barbecue, kids' activities and vehicle demolition experience, will be held Saturday, June 27. The department is also accepting entrants for the 5K run, which will begin at 8 … Continue reading ‘Smash & Dash’ vendor deadline is June 15
Court considers fire marshal position amid development
The Hill County Commissioners Court discussed the hiring of a county fire marshal and other county business after wrapping up lengthy discussions about a data center moratorium Tuesday, May 12. As the county sees increased interest from developers, commissioners discussed the need for increased monitoring of projects. The issue was first brought up during data … Continue reading Court considers fire marshal position amid development
Fort Graham Baptist sanctuary destroyed by fire
A fast-spreading fire claimed the Fort Graham Baptist Church sanctuary Tuesday, March 31, after a vehicle fire spread to the building. The sanctuary was dedicated in 1992 after a fundraising campaign. Members of Fort Graham Baptist Church marked Easter in a way they never expected, gathering in faith just days after a catastrophic fire destroyed … Continue reading Fort Graham Baptist sanctuary destroyed by fire
Peoria rollover leads to fire, power outage
A single-vehicle rollover in Peoria led to a fire and power outage Sunday afternoon, January 18. At 3:09 p.m., Peoria Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the 3300 block of SH 22 after the driver of an eastbound Ford Escape failed to negotiate a curve safely. The vehicle left the roadway, crashed into a utility … Continue reading Peoria rollover leads to fire, power outage
Fire departments receive state grants
The Texas A&M Forest Service approved $164 million in funding to award 558 fire trucks and 321 slip-on units to Texas volunteer fire departments through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program last week. The following Hill County departments were awarded: Whitney Fire and Rescue - $345,000 to be used for a water tender and … Continue reading Fire departments receive state grants
One fatality reported after Whitney mobile home fire
The State Fire Marshal's Office and Hill County Sheriff's Office are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of a fire that claimed the life of one individual early Friday, March 21. Neighbors reported hearing an explosion and saw the double-wide mobile home in the 200 block of HCR 2109 engulfed in flames at approximately … Continue reading One fatality reported after Whitney mobile home fire
County under 90-day burn ban
Editor: Shannon Cottongame August 3, 2023 The Hill County Commissioners Court passed a 90-day burn ban during a regular meeting held Tuesday, July 25. The order states that dry conditions exist in the county and local fire departments are depleting limited resources to protect public health and safety. It further states that dry, windy conditions … Continue reading County under 90-day burn ban
Fire leads to multi-day effort near Blum
Editor: Shannon Cottongame August 3, 2023 The Texas A&M Forest Service and other agencies joined with local volunteer fire departments last week to fight a wildfire that burned 300 acres near Blum. Units fought the fire from the ground and air and were able to keep it within containment lines by the end of the … Continue reading Fire leads to multi-day effort near Blum
Air resources called in for Hard Castle Fire
Editor: Shannon Cottongame July 14, 2022 The Texas A&M Forest Service assisted Bosque County firefighters as they worked to contain the 500+ acre Hard Castle Fire near Walnut Springs over the weekend. Boaters on Lake Whitney were warned to avoid areas where aircraft were scooping water from the lake to drop on the scene. The … Continue reading Air resources called in for Hard Castle Fire
The Lakelander 