The Meyersville Volunteer Fire Department of Washington County, Inc. was officially incorporated on the 21st day of May, 1982.
The department is a non-profit organization that is tasked with purchasing and operating all firefighting, and emergency equipment that is used for fire suppression. The initial directors were Melvin Mauer, Edwin Weiss Jr., and Walter Schultz. Many other men joined to support their neighbors and families during a fire emergency.
Much different than today, to become a firefighter there was a membership fee that was due effective January of each year. These dues allowed a paying citizen to respond to fires. During this time the department responded to approximately one call per month. A Ford truck was outfitted with a 1000-gallon tank with a hose reel and portable pump on the rear. Another tanker was added using a Dodge chassis with a used gasoline delivery body. It too was outfitted with a portable gas pump and hose reel.
As mentioned, any member could respond to a call and there were usually 25 or so men that assisted on structure fires. Usually, PPE was very limited and use was not required. As time went on and newer members joined, individual PPE was purchased or received as donations from other departments.
Normally a limited number of persons responded to wildland fires. The work was accomplished by 3-5 responders and the two trucks. At times there were alarms that one or two persons responded to. The task before them was accomplished even with low staffing.
Early in the 1990’s a two-ton chassis was purchased and outfitted with a line body. A local welder manufactured a tank that was built into the body. By purchasing a diesel engine and chassis, a Darley PTO pump was installed and the department began the upgrade of equipment. To improve PPE a member made contact with a Harris County department. A number of SCBA’s were gifted to the department which again gave us needed equipment for our members.
Education and training were initiated by the desires of new members. Many weekend schools were attended through the years to begin the growth in education. This forward growth could not have been accomplished without the non firefighters everlasting support.
As time moved on the Ford was sold and another chassis was purchased in the late 90’s. This vehicle again was outfitted with a pto pump. The older Dodge body was transferred to the newly purchased used Kodiac. Again the work was done in-house with the bulk of the work being done with a local welder. As luck has it, the body did not fit the chassis frame. It was decided to use the space as a top-mounted pump panel. A 500-gallon PTO was installed and this truck and it became the engine/ tanker.
As expected funds were short as the project went forward. To help with the funding effort, a siltation letter was drafted explaining the needs and direction the department was moving toward.
This effort touched many donors and they responded with enough funds that help complete the effort.
As we continued to move forward, a FEMA grant proposal was drafted by a current member of the department. This request was approved and in 2004 we received the grant for a new engine. A 2004 Kenworth engine was ordered and built to the department’s specs. and brought into service with all equipment included in the bid.
Many projects were underway such as a four-wheel drive four-door used chassis that was converted with a booster skid unit to fit it out as a grass/booster truck.
The department was again fortunate enough to receive a grant from the Texas Forest Service for a new booster truck. This was the second new vehicle acquired by the department. Later in the decade a current department member took the lead and secured two booster trucks and a command vehicle from a Harris County department. To complete the current fleet, the Meyersville VFD received word from the TFS awarding a 2000-gallon tender. The Peterbilt tender was delivered and it has been used in several active fire seasons.
Much has been noted about the equipment that has been acquired over the years. As in any organization, the personnel are always the most essential. Members are now trained in FF1, FF2, vehicle extrication, and fire instructor 1, 2, and 3 certifications. Many members have made the extra step in training and are available for deployment in the event of large wildland fires.
Many dedicated individuals have served as officers, board members, and firefighters. Their support has allowed the department to grow from 12 calls a month to over 150 alarms a year. Thank you.