LCRA, Bluebonnet Electric Co-op award $25,000 grant for new brush truck

 

Winchester Area VFD will replace inoperable 41-year-old unit to improve department’s response capabilities

June 4, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Co-op award a $25,000 grant to the Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department for a new brush truck.
  • The new truck will help improve the department’s response to fires and other emergencies in hard-to-reach areas of Fayette County and the surrounding region.
  • The grant is one of 41 being awarded through LCRA’s Community Grants program through June. LCRA will accept applications in July for the next round of grants.

LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative representatives present a $25,000 grant to the Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department for a new brush truck. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Mark Mayo and Melissa K. Blanding, LCRA Board members; Sherry Murphy, VFD treasurer and Bluebonnet community representative, Giddings area; Kelly Franke, VFD vice president; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Daniel Bamsch, firefighter; Ron Kaiser, VFD secretary; Russell Jurk, Bluebonnet director, District 4; and Kate Ramzinski, LCRA Regional Affairs representative.

FAYETTE COUNTY, Texas – The Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department soon will replace its broken down 1980s-era brush truck with a new vehicle designed to go off-road and get firefighters to hard-to-reach areas more safely and quickly, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.

The LCRA Community Grant, along with $73,450 in matching funds from the VFD, will enable the department to purchase a low-mileage Stewart & Stevenson 6×6 cargo truck that will be converted into a brush truck. The department plans to move key equipment from its current truck, including the water pump, hoses, tools, radios and related components, to outfit the replacement vehicle.

“Because of the rural terrain we cover, having the right equipment can make all the difference in how quickly and safely we can respond,” said Jacki Short, president of the Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department. “Our old truck could no longer be serviced, and without a dependable brush truck, there were areas we simply could not reach. This new truck will help us get to emergencies faster, knock down fires before they spread and better protect homes, land and people.”

The department’s service area includes a 53-square mile area in northwestern Fayette County, including Winchester, Warda and the Clear Lake Pines subdivision. The department also provides mutual aid to neighboring departments.

Short said the department’s existing brush truck has reached the end of its useful life and is out of service because of mechanical issues. Replacement parts are difficult to find, and the vehicle has become increasingly challenging to maintain.

“We serve a tight-knit community where people look out for one another,” Short said. “When our firefighters respond to an emergency, our general membership often shows up with food, water and support for the responders on the scene. This grant will have a lasting impact for a department like ours, not just today but for years to come.”

This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at www.lcra.org/grants.

Contact Info

LCRA
Clara Tuma, Public Information Officer
512-578-3292
[email protected]

Bluebonnet
Will Holford
512-332-7955
[email protected]

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves communities across Texas by managing the lower Colorado River, generating and transmitting wholesale electric power, providing clean water supplies, operating telecommunications infrastructure, and owning parks for outdoor recreation. LCRA delivers power, water and infrastructure that support the region’s growth and quality of life. 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. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1934, LCRA receives no state appropriations.

About Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of the largest electric cooperatives in Texas and has been serving its members since 1939. Bluebonnet serves more than 143,000 meters and owns and maintains 12,700 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 X/Twitter.