LCRA awards $12,242 grant to Nordheim Volunteer Fire Company for emergency response trailer

NORDHEIM, Texas – The Nordheim Volunteer Fire Company soon will purchase an enclosed cargo trailer to transport rescue gear to emergency scenes and provide an air-conditioned recovery space for firefighters, thanks to a $12,242 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The LCRA Community Grant, along with $3,253 in matching funds from the fire company, will enable the department to purchase a 7-foot-wide, 16-foot-long trailer equipped with storage space for emergency supplies and an air-conditioning unit. The trailer will be used during larger fires, rescue operations and other incidents requiring more equipment and personnel than needed in smaller responses.

“Right now, when we respond to a larger emergency, we have to load equipment wherever we can fit it, including into our personal vehicles,” said Derrick Green, fire chief of the Nordheim Volunteer Fire Company. “Having a dedicated trailer will allow us to bring the equipment and supplies we need to the scene in one vehicle. This is going to be a game changer for our department and the communities we serve.”

The trailer also will help with firefighter rehabilitation during an event by providing a safe, designated space for crews to cool down and recover during extended emergency responses. The department now relies on emergency medical services vehicles to provide that support, but the vehicles have limited space for firefighters. Green said there is no comparable trailer available in the county.

“Firefighter rehabilitation is extremely important, especially during the Texas summer when we’re working in heavy protective gear and dealing with intense heat at a fire,” Green said. “We need a place where our firefighters can get out of the heat, cool down and recover before going back to work. Having an air-conditioned space right at the scene will make a tremendous difference in helping us take care of the people who are protecting our communities. We are grateful to LCRA for this support.”

The Nordheim Volunteer Fire Company serves the Nordheim community, as well as neighboring areas in DeWitt and Karnes counties. The new trailer will be available to support larger emergency responses throughout the region.

This is one of 43 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.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at www.lcra.org/grants.

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