LCRA, City of Brenham award $25,000 grant for new thermal imaging cameras to help in fighting fires

New technology for Brenham Fire Department will improve firefighter safety, emergency response capabilities

May 30, 2025

LCRA and City of Brenham representatives present a $25,000 grant to the Brenham Fire Department for six new thermal imaging cameras. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Alexander Knight, Garrett Brown and Coltin Whitaker, firefighters; Joe Hinds and Dustin Palmore, engineer operators; Ryan Swor, lieutenant; Carolyn Miller, City of Brenham city manager; Mark Donovan, fire chief; Atwood C. Kenjura, mayor; Kyle Bentke, vice president of the department’s volunteer division; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Jonathan Schramm, president of the volunteer division and engineer operator; Stephen Draehn, assistant fire chief of the volunteer division; David Cella, assistant chief; Annette Tiemann, assistant secretary-treasurer of the volunteer division; Josh Sebastian, captain; Kate Ramzinski, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; and John Durrenberger, Washington County judge.
BRENHAM, Texas – The Brenham Fire Department soon will purchase six new thermal imaging cameras to enhance the department’s emergency response capabilities and help firefighters more safely navigate smoke-filled environments, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Brenham.

The LCRA Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $6,990 in matching funds from the department, will enable each fire apparatus to be equipped with a new thermal imaging camera. The upgrade will replace aging equipment and help firefighters identify places where a fire has spread and locate victims faster during emergency calls.

“Our current thermal imaging cameras are outdated, and parts are increasingly hard to find,” said Jonathan Schramm, president of the department’s volunteer division. “These new cameras will make a real difference by giving each apparatus its own reliable unit, which allows us to search buildings more quickly, reach people in fires more quickly and reduce property damage.”

In addition to enhancing victim rescue operations, the cameras help firefighters identify hotspots behind walls or ceilings, limiting the need to tear out unburned areas unnecessarily.

“Thermal imaging is a powerful tool that improves firefighter safety and helps us work faster and smarter on scene,” Schramm said. “Thanks to this grant, we’re better equipped to serve Brenham and surrounding areas well into the future.”

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. The City of Brenham is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant programs.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July 2025. 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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Clara Tuma, Public Information Officer
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