Bluebonnet Volunteer Fire Department is a group with approximately 20 volunteers serving Cedar Creek and surrounding areas. We provide fire and rescue services to the citizens of our community as well as providing mutual aide to neighboring areas. Bluebonnet VFD was started in 1968 to serve the needs of the community. Since then we have grown tremendously. We have 3 stations to serve our area. Our primary station is on Still Forest, which is across Hwy 71 across from McKinney Roughs. Another station is located at Cedar Creek off FM535. And our third station is on FM969 near the Bastrop/Travis county line.

With the rapid growth in our area the needs for our services constantly grows and expands. While the department receives a large portion of our funding from Bastrop Emergency Services District (ESD)#1, additional funding is needed from private donations to maintain our effectiveness and improve our equipment and services.

2008 has been a busy year with a record number of responses. Our biggest incidents were on New Year's Eve and the McKinney Roughs fire during the summer. Our volunteers and paid firefighters worked extremely hard to protect property during these times and, with help from surrounding departments, were able to protect the community. Thanks to Bastrop ESD #1, we were able to replace our aged Engine 8 that had been housed at our Cedar Creek station with a new engine. We were able to replace Engine 9 at our 969 station with a modern tanker/pumper. And recently we have added a rescue vehicle to improve our response for vehicle accidents. You are welcome to visit our web site or stop by a station to see the apparatus.

Bluebonnet VFD funds (non-ESD) were used to purchase much of the equipment needed for the new apparatus. This included hoses, nozzles, adapters and fittings needed for firefighting.

As you may know we have 2 full-time, paid , highly experienced firefighters that work on weekdays when most of the volunteers are away from the area. In the past Bastrop ESD #1 has fully funded the pay of these two firefighters. This year the ESD decided to only fund a portion of the pay required to ensure full weekday coverage. We strongly believe this decreased funding creates a significant gap in firefighter coverage for our busy area of Bastrop County. Our paid firefighters are often the first responders to arrive on scene during weekdays, whether it is a school fire alarm, vehicle collision on the highway, landing zone for Star Flight, brush fire or other emergency. Therefore, our department decided to utilize Bluebonnet VFD funds to maintain our coverage during weekdays.

One of the greatest funding needs for the coming year is to renovate our original Still Forest Station building which was constructed in 1977. The building needs to be modernized for the growing needs of our department and community. Another funding need is to complete landscaping/and exterior work for the Still Forest annex that was completed in 2007.

We realize many are struggling this year. Any amount you are able to donate will be greatly appreciated and spent wisely. You may donate using the enclosed return envelope or by PayPal on http://www.bbvfd.com. We're always looking for new volunteers as well. See our web site for information on how to join and other information about Bluebonnet VFD.

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Bluebonnet VFD

P.S. We are asking for anyone interested in volunteering to visit on of our meetings. See what we do! We currently have over twenty five men and women of all ages and backgrounds, not all of whom get dirty and fight fires. It takes many different skills to run a successful fire department, and we are always looking for new members. We meet most Thursday evenings at 7:30PM at the Cedar Creek Station or Still Forest Station . Stop by and visit! We would love to show you around. Thank you for your continued support!