LCRA, Bluebonnet Electric Co-op award $24,500 grant to South Lee County VFD
Specialized truck will be more reliable, enable firefighters to cross rugged terrain more quickly
May 30, 2025
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $10,500 in matching funds from the VFD, will enable the department to replace its 32-year-old former military truck with a newer vehicle that will be more reliable and efficient. Repairs on the old truck require expensive and custom-made parts that can keep the vehicle out of service for long periods of time.
“The truck we’re purchasing will be able to hold a lot more water than what our current capabilities are,” VFD Fire Chief Kyle Jenke said. “Now that we’ve been expanding the area we’re serving, it’s important that we’re able to carry the water needed to put out some of the bigger fires.”
The department serves South Lee County, and responds to calls in Lee, Fayette and Bastrop counties through mutual aid agreements. It also recently joined the newly formed Lee County Task Force and responds to calls in parts of Burleson and Washington counties.
“The newer truck will be able to handle rougher terrain, so we can get into the tighter areas where a normal brush truck wouldn’t be able to reach,” Jenke said. “We’ve had to do it a number of times already, so we know how important it is for the truck to be able to handle a lot. This upgrade will also make it much easier for us to get any needed repairs done so we don’t have to spend as much money out of pocket.”
The extra wheels on the truck provide additional traction and can be used to respond to fires and emergency rescues, as well as help retrieve other vehicles that become stuck in the mud.
The community grant is one of 45 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible 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. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
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 138,000 meters and owns and maintains 12,800 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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