LCRA awards $25,000 grant to Wall VFD for updated safety equipment
Outdated breathing gear for firefighters will be replaced with units that meet national standards
Dec. 16, 2025
The community grant, along with $15,413 in matching funds from the VFD, will pay for four new breathing packs and eight new air cylinders to help ensure local firefighters have high-quality safety equipment that meets national standards as they battle structure fires and respond to other emergencies.
“The importance of this grant cannot be overstated, because it will allow us to better protect the firefighters who are risking their lives to keep the community safe,” said Ryan Born, assistant fire chief. “The equipment we’re purchasing will allow first responders to safely and efficiently fight fires while reducing the risk to their health when they are in conditions that can cause cancer, injuries or death.”
SCBAs, or self-contained breathing apparatus, enable firefighters to carry a supply of fresh, clean air with them as they enter emergency situations. The National Fire Protection Agency recently updated the standards for SCBAs and limited the lifespan of a pack to 15 years. The units previously were considered usable as long as they could be serviced.
“Trying to keep up with the changing times and standards is hard for volunteer organizations like ours,” Born said. “The cost of a setup is around $10,000, and the money is just not there. We rely heavily on grants like this to offset costs and keep our department going.”
Wall VFD serves a 474-square mile area in Tom Green County, including the Wall, Veribest, Mereta, East County and Pecan Creek communities, and provides mutual aid to other departments in Tom Green County, including the City of San Angelo and Goodfellow Air Force Base, and in nearby counties.
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 January. 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.
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