LCRA awards $46,800 grant to Talpa Volunteer Fire Department

New building will provide space for firetrucks and equipment, allow for quicker emergency response

May 12, 2023

COLEMAN COUNTY, Texas – The Talpa Volunteer Fire Department will construct a new building to protect its firetrucks and other emergency equipment, thanks in part to a $46,800 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.
 
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $11,700 in matching funds from the department, will pay for the construction of a 40-by-40-foot building that will house two firetrucks and provide additional storage space.
 
“I’ve been with the fire department for 45 years, and all we’ve ever had is an old brick building with a little door and one 60-watt light bulb,” said Rusty Ryan, VFD fire chief. “This new building will close completely, have lights and give us a place to work and store our gear.”
 
Ryan said firefighters cannot leave personal equipment in the current facility due to a lack of space and because small holes in the building expose items to outdoor elements such as weather and wildlife.
 
“Instead of having our gear hanging in the station for us to grab when we need to respond to emergencies, we have no choice but to store items in our personal homes or vehicles,” Ryan said. “Half of the time, someone forgets something they need.”
 
He said the addition will provide larger bays for the firetrucks, which will make a huge difference in leaving the station to respond to a call.
 
“Our building is so small and tight that it takes three people to get one truck backed in because everyone has to watch a certain spot,” Ryan said. “You can’t even use the mirrors. You have to fold them in. The new fire station will help us get our trucks in and out faster and improve our response time.”
 
LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said he salutes the department and its volunteers for their dedication to protecting the communities they serve.
 
“Firefighters are there for us in all kinds of weather and in all kinds of emergencies,” Wilson said. “They deserve to have a place to store trucks and equipment to keep everything in top-notch condition and ready to roll at all times. This new building is an investment in the safety and future of the department, and we’re honored to be a part of it.”
 
Talpa VFD primarily serves western Coleman County and eastern Runnels County. It offers mutual aid assistance to other areas of Coleman County as needed.
 
The community grant is one of 34 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.

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