Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire Department

It is a pleasure to kick off our first bi-monthly newsletter for the Brazos Canyon Volunteer Department. This newsletter will be a collaborative effort with firefighter Eric Toledo leading the publication.

Important Updates

Currently, we are under a fire district burn ban as well as a county-wide burn ban until further notice. Please check the signs within the district and check the BCVFD website for updates. Since January we have responded to two fire calls both of which were handled successfully by our dedicated Brazos Canyon district firefighters.

Station Improvements

Our fire district comprises two stations: Michael J. Hays Station and Ponderosa Station. Both stations have undergone renovations. You might have noticed at previous events that the flooring was separating and at Ponderosa some rooms lacked flooring altogether. Thanks to leftover funds from the ‘building improvement’ grant, we were able to install new flooring in both stations.

Chief Praiswater, along with firefighters M. Praiswater and V. Gallagher saved costs by painting the interior of Michael J. Hays Station. Ponderosa Station will be next in line for a fresh coat. A heartfelt thank you to Valerie and Mike for their time and expertise.

Recruitment Efforts

The department is in active recruitment mode, and as Chief, I could really use your assistance. Fire districts must maintain 12 active firefighters and we currently have 15. Our fire district covers a large area including everything north of the river and east of Highway 84, extending just past the Cañones subdivision. We are in need of more drivers, hose handlers, Firefighters!

If you are interested in helping with tasks such as chipping events or working on water tanks, please consider joining as a limited duty member. Serving your community as a volunteer with the fire department is a rewarding opportunity. Applications can be filled out and submitted directly to the county for a background check. You can find the application link here: Firefighter Application 

Training Highlights

Firefighters participate in various trainings throughout the year. One notable session involved extinguishing a live propane fire using a special training propane tank provided by Innovation Propane Solutions from La Jara, Colorado. The training, led by an instructor from the East Coast, was rigorous and required several firefighters to work safely in full gear but we successfully accomplished the mission alongside neighboring fire departments.

Additionally, firefighters attended training on self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), either as a new training or a refresher. Overcoming claustrophobia is a key challenge for many firefighters when using SCBAs.

The dedicated firefighters serving Brazos Canyon fire district work hard and train monthly. Please take a moment to thank them when you see them. Even as volunteers we strive toward achieving Firefighter I and Firefighter II certifications.