LCRA, Bluebonnet Electric Co-op award $19,869 grant to Bastrop County first responders

New safety gear will enable Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department to provide more firefighters with proper equipment

Nov. 6, 2025

BASTROP COUNTY, Texas – Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department soon will purchase additional protective equipment to increase the number of firefighters who can safely respond to emergencies with the VFD, thanks to a $19,869 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.

The community grant, along with $5,159 in matching funds from the VFD, will equip four additional firefighters with gear such as special jackets, helmets and boots to fight wildland, vehicle and structure fires. Having more firefighters can help speed up response time and mitigate potential property damage, injury and loss of life.

“Without this grant, we would only be able to properly equip one of our four trained volunteer firefighters,” said James Lewey, Heart of the Pines VFD treasurer. “When something like a fire happens, our goal is to ensure that every trained first responder is able to quickly jump into action, and frankly new equipment can be very cost prohibitive.”

Heart of the Pines VFD provides emergency assistance to a 35-square-mile area in eastern Bastrop County. The department also provides mutual aid to other area departments and participates in Bastrop County wildland fire task forces.

“Because we are entirely made up of volunteers, there are times when our department receives emergency calls and not everyone will be able to respond,” Lewey said. “It’s vital that we have as many firefighters as we can that are properly equipped, and thanks to this grant we will be able to continue the training of four firefighters that will be able to respond.”

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. Bluebonnet 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.

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.

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