Twenty-six volunteer fire departments across 17 counties in West, Northwest Texas receive grants to enhance equipment and training
Big Spring, TX – [Aug. 30, 2024] Oncor Cares Foundation is announcing its most recent investment in Texas communities: $650,000 to support critical training and equipment for 26 fire departments across West and Northwest Texas. Oncor, the largest transmission and distribution utility in Texas, founded the Oncor Cares Foundation to help expand Oncor’s charitable giving and support for the many communities Oncor serves. The Howard County Volunteer Fire Department is one of 26 grant recipients.
Spanning 17 counties, these volunteer departments were specifically selected based on their volunteer status, community value and their unique, arid local conditions. Each volunteer department will receive an equal grant of $25,000 to be primarily focused on purchasing new firefighting equipment or training to elevate the department’s preparedness and response capabilities.
“These volunteer fire departments are ready to answer the call each day to serve their communities and they have been great safety partners to Oncor, our employees and our customers, said Peter Gonzales, Area Manager for Oncor. “It was an honor to recognize the Howard County Volunteer Fire Department today and we look forward to continuing to work together to put safety first.”
At Oncor, we are constantly searching for opportunities to prioritize safety and support the safety partners who work hand-in-hand with us to serve Texas communities. We recognize and appreciate the life-saving role of our volunteer firefighters and are honored to provide these departments with funds to support high-quality firefighting equipment and additional training for these first responders. We are excited to see the impact this gift has on the Howard County VFD, and we look forward to continuing to support its mission of protecting local families, homes and businesses,” said Peter Gonzales, Area Manager for Oncor.
In a private event at the Oncor Electric Delivery Service Center in Big Spring, volunteer firefighters and Oncor representatives were joined by Fire Chief, Eric Barber for a personal check delivery of their grant.
A list of all volunteer fire departments that received a gift reads:
Ackerly VFD; Dawson County
Andrews VFD; Andrews County
Bluff Dale VFD; Erath County
Borden County VFD; Borden County
Carbon VFD; Eastland County
Dublin VFD; Erath County
Eliasville Rural VFD; Young County
Friberg-Cooper VFD; Wichita County
Gardendale VFD; Ector County
Greenwood VFD; Ector County
Groom VFD; Carson County
Holliday VFD & Rescue Inc.; Archer County
Howard County VFD; Howard County
Lake Sweetwater VFD; Nolan County
Lingleville VFD; Erath County
Maryneal VFD; Nolan County
Monahans VFD; Ward County
Northeast Midland County VFD Inc.; Midland County
Olden VFD; Eastland County
Panhandle VFD; Carson County
Skellytown Area Volunteer
Firefighters-EMS Association Inc.; Carson County
Strawn VFD; Palo Pinto County
West Odessa VFD; Ector County
White Deer VFD; Carson County
Wink County VFD; Winkler County
Environmental conditions in West and Northwest Texas have long posed unique challenges for fire departments, particularly due to low humidity, high winds, scorching temperatures and limited rainfall. Additionally, a large portion of volunteer fire departments in these areas operate with hand-me-down equipment and gear, leaving them less prepared than their federally funded counterparts to most effectively and safely battle fires.
The Oncor Cares Foundation is supported by contributions from various sources including Oncor. Contributions made by Oncor to the Oncor Cares Foundation are not recovered through its rates nor paid for by Oncor customers. For more information about Oncor and its community initiatives, please visit TheWire.Oncor.com.
[PHOTO provided: Oncor’s Area Manager, Peter Gonzales presents $25,000 check to Howard County Volunteer Fire Department as part of key investment in Texas communities to increase volunteer firefighting departments’ preparedness and response capabilities. From left, Peter Gonzales, Oncor employees Gentry Pylant, Jeremy Gonzales & Robby Barnes, Chief Eric Barber, Volunteers Kris Dokey, Rafael Mata, Erick Robertson, Kelby Vise, and Oncor employees Isaac Arguello, Willie Fajardo, Julian Murillo, and Jose Juarez.]
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