LCRA, Bandera Electric Co-op award $20,236 grant to Castle Lake Ranch VFD

 

New equipment, facility upgrades will enhance department’s emergency response

Nov. 25, 2025

LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative representatives present a $20,236 grant to the Castle Lake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department for new emergency equipment and upgrades to its fire station. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Mitch Thomas, Ronnie Schultz and Phil Radtke, VFD firefighters; Charity Huber, BEC marketing and communications director; Robert Aguirre, BEC director, District 1; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Paul Miller, VFD fire chief; Hannah Culak, BEC marketing design specialist; Sherry Curtis, VFD fundraising trustee; Callie Cargile, BEC marketing specialist; and John Palacio, LCRA Regional Affairs representative.
BANDERA COUNTY, Texas – The Castle Lake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department soon will purchase new emergency equipment and make improvements to its fire station, thanks to a $20,236 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bandera Electric Cooperative.

The community grant, along with more than $5,000 in matching funds from the VFD, will enable the department to replace aging tools and equipment that have become worn over years of service, improving both safety and operational efficiency. In addition to purchasing new tools such as battery-powered saws and water tank level indicators for its fire trucks, the department also will make station upgrades including adding energy-efficient LED lighting, ceiling fans and a tankless water heater.

“This grant is a major boost for our department,” Fire Chief Paul Miller said. “Our station is 50 years old and in great need of modern improvements. With these new tools and equipment, we’ll be able to respond to emergencies more quickly and effectively, reducing property damage and keeping our neighbors and volunteers safe.”

Miller said providing modern, efficient tools helps firefighters provide quicker and more effective responses to fires and other emergencies.

“Grants like this one from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative are essential because they allow us to invest in capital equipment that we simply couldn’t fund on our own,” Miller said. “This support ensures that we can continue providing reliable emergency services to our community for hopefully the next 50 years and beyond.”

The Castle Lake Ranch VFD serves parts of Bandera, Kerr and Kendall counties and honors seven mutual aid agreements with surrounding VFDs.

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. Bandera Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the Community Grants program.

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.

Contact Info

Clara Tuma, Public Information Officer
512-578-3292
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