Horseshoe Bay Fire Rescue

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

The city of Horseshoe Bay will purchase new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) for Horseshoe Bay Fire Rescue for $107,000 to take care of a critical equipment need in response to a request made earlier this month by Fire Chief Brent Batla.

Batla said the new air bottles and air packs will be paid for using money taken from the capital budget for a new fire rescue boat. The majority of SCBA within the department will be reaching their mandated end-of-life between this fiscal year and next, Batla said. …

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

The new Horseshoe Bay fire chief is no stranger to towns which straddle a county line, and no stranger to Horseshoe Bay, either.

Brent Batla was unanimously named the city's next fire chief during the Oct. 15 Horseshoe Bay City Council meeting.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Horseshoe Bay is looking for a new fire chief after Joe Morris announced his retirement from the position Friday, Aug. 9. His last day with the city will be Friday, Aug. 23.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

After nearly a week of being in-service Marble Falls Fire Rescue personnel noticed the benefit of the entity's new squad response SUV.

“It's a better use of resources,” Marble Falls Fire Capt. Sam Stacks said. “It's going to improve our customer service.”

Crews placed the response vehicle in service the morning of Jan. 15.

“So far, it's working great,” Marble Falls Fire Engineer Randy Rankin said. “It's putting less wear and tear on the engine.

“It's also much easier to maneuver.”

Along with the new SUV, the department received a $553,968 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant.

The grant increases the number of firefighters within the agency, adding one to each shift. Each shift will staff five firefighters. The new crew members were sworn in on the same day the vehicle went into service.

From Staff Reports •
Surrounding agencies are battling a brush fire which ignited mid afternoon Aug. 25 in an area adjacent to Horseshoe Bay airport.
The bulk of the blaze is on the north side of Texas 71 and moving northwest towards the airport.
"(The) fire started from a spark from a land clearing machine," Burnet County Judge James Oakley stated. "This is just how dry the fuel is and then with just a little wind, things can easily get out of control."
Fire officials have requested evacuations of residents in the path of the wildfire as a precautionary measure.
Burnet County Sheriff's Office dispatchers are receiving reports of billowing smoke seen for several miles and falling ash as far north as Hoover Valley.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

A contract to begin the first phase of remodeling Horseshoe Bay Fire Rescue's Central Fire Station was awarded by the Horseshoe Bay City Council Tuesday to Roan Commercial Group LLC for $172,730.

Today, Thursday, June 29, is the last day to purchase a ticket for a ride-along on one of the new Horseshoe Bay fire engines in the city's 4th of July parade.

For the donation of $5 each or $20 for five tickets, you not only get a chance to join the parade in a Horseshoe Bay Fire Rescue truck, you support the Hill Country 100 Club.

A winning ticket is good for space for two adults or an adult and a child, four years or older, with a booster seat and an adult qualified to sign the liability waiver for the ride.