LCRA awards $18,860 grant to Runge Fire Department for updated firefighting gear

 

New equipment will help protect firefighters responding to brush and wildland fires

June 2, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • LCRA awards an $18,860 grant to the City of Runge Fire Department for new wildland firefighting gear.
  • The gear will provide firefighters with lightweight, flame-resistant gear to wear when responding to brush and wildland fires, which make up the majority of the department’s calls.
  • 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 representatives present an $18,860 grant to the City of Runge Fire Department for new firefighting gear. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Brandon Nunez, assistant fire chief; Christopher Parker, mayor; Cody Villarreal, fire chief; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Steven Caves, fire department secretary; Mark Mayo, LCRA Board member; and Elizabeth Ehlers, LCRA Regional Affairs representative.

RUNGE, Texas – The City of Runge Fire Department soon will purchase specialized firefighting gear to help protect firefighters responding to brush and wildland fires, thanks to an $18,860 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The LCRA Community Grant, along with $4,715 in matching funds from the fire department, will provide firefighters with protective gear designed for the type of calls they respond to most often. The department serves Runge and surrounding areas and provides mutual aid in Karnes County and portions of DeWitt County.

“We’re a volunteer department, and like many small departments, we rely heavily on donations while balancing a lot of other expenses,” said Cody Villarreal, fire chief of the City of Runge Fire Department. “Wildland gear is something we have needed for a long time, but we have not had the funds to purchase it. This grant helps us take a major step forward in protecting our firefighters.”

Without proper wildland gear, volunteer firefighters often respond to brush fires in jeans, boots and work shirts or use bunker gear that can cause them to overheat during prolonged outdoor fire responses. The new equipment will include specialized tactical pants, boots, shirts, gloves and anti-fog goggles.

“Safety is the number one thing,” Villarreal said. “When our firefighters are out there without the right gear, it puts them at risk. We’re often the first line of defense, and in dry seasons these fires can spread quickly. Having proper wildland gear means we can respond more safely, protect our members and perform our duties more effectively.”

The equipment will help the department meet current safety standards while increasing its ability to respond quickly in a rural area where other departments may be more than 30 minutes away.

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

Clara Tuma
512-578-3292
[email protected]
After hours: 512-944-6719

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.