Pine Ridge Volunteer Fire Department

            In recent months the Pine Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, that is providing you emergency services, has made some major advances.  We are participating in a training program with the State Fire Fighters and Fire Marshal’s Association that will certify the fire fighters who respond out of the Pine Ridge Fire Station.

            In the past five months, five of the eleven volunteers that respond from this station have reached the required level of training to receive a certification through the SFFMA by participating in our structured and effective training program.  The training program is provided free of charge to volunteers by certified volunteer fire instructors and is hosted by the HCESD #5.

            New up-to-date operating procedures that guide the department have been adopted to allow efficient and appropriate response to today’s emergencies.  The PRVFD has produced and adopted a set of strict guidelines outlining our emergency responses.  Our guidelines are now being used as a building block for a universal set of regulations that will be used through out HCESD #5.  All new and old firefighters will receive specific fire and rescue training to incorporate our guidelines into their emergency response training.

            In the past two months the PRVFD has become compliant with the National Fire Reporting System and with the Texas Forest Service’s Reporting Program.  The Department’s State Charter has lapsed, but has been renewed along with all federal and state tax and business requirements.  Because we have achieved a new standard of compliance we are now eligible for state and federal fire protection programs and because of this, on 10/17/2007 the PRVFD applied for four grants, under the direction of the Forest Service, for a total of $95,000 to purchase a new multi-purpose wild land fire fighting vehicle that will be used to provide first response to wild fires, automobile accidents and medical emergencies.  We also applied for a TFS Grant to purchase a new set of “Jaws of Life” to provide a quick response to automobile accidents.  Also included in the requests were ten sets of firefighting personal protective equipment for our fire fighters and five new dry fire hydrants.