Bluebonnet Volunteer Fire Department, also know as Bluebonnet Acres Volunteer Fire Department, was started in 1968. Leon and Jo Miller, along with Joe and Mike Quinn drove to Rockne to pick up the first fire truck for the department. It was actually an old refueling truck converted to pump water. And that it could do. There was one little problem and that was it had no brakes. But back then that was not a stopper, and a vehicle that could pump water was more important than one that had brakes. So Ol Yeller was put into service. And not too soon as the next day it responded to the first fire for the newly created department, a small grass fire in RiverOaks sub division. As Leon remembers that day a cold front came in and along with that were the winds. The fire quickly grew, but luck was on our side. It was 1968, there were no houses so only grass burned.

When received the vehicle was parked in a field under the power lines by Leon Miller’s house. Leon says the department members would respond from there to all fires in the district. In 1970 they built a 24 x 30 metal building to house the truck, which is still standing. Before we continue down the timeline, we should go back a few years, to the BIG one that caused the neighbors to start looking for fire support. In late 1962 or 1963, (Leon is unsure of exact dates), a small brush fire started in Bluebonnet Acres just down from the present Still Forest fire station. By the time it ended the fire had burned all the way to Hwy 21 and burned thousands of acres. Luckily there weren’t many structures in the path and family houses were spared.

Well, back to the department timeline. In 1970 the department picked up another vehicle, a 1951 Ford USAF refueling vehicle from Bastrop. Little Red was the second vehicle for the fleet and it was becoming evident a station was needed.

Many things happened during 1972. The first barbecue was held down by the lake in a pit built by fire department folks. The current fire station was built and two more vehicles were added to the fleet. The department purchased the one acre plot where the current fire station on Still Forest is located from land originally owned by the Gohikes. A small loan of $15,000 was received from a local bank and the fire department members built the station. Two more vehicles were purchased during this time. One was a Korean War and one a Vietnam War ex-military truck. The last big thing to happen in 1972 was the Fire Department, then known as Bluebonnet Acres Volunteer Fire Department, was officially formed and a charter was written. Some original members include Leon and Jo Miller, Joe and Mike Quinn, Paul and Alice Ferguson, Jason Carrington and Julius Cheatham.

Many trucks have come and gone since those early times. It wasn't until the middle 90s, spurred by the population growth and second station was put next to the Cedar Creek Elementary School. This was built primarily by, again, fire department members. This time the bulk of the funds donated were from the Voss Foundation.

Tanker 12 was received in December 2003 and was the first new vehicle bought by the department since its inception. The funds came from a FEMA grant. Another FEMA grant was awarded for the purchase of a mobile air cascade refilling trailer near the end of 2005. We call it Mobile Air 1. Other recent purchases include a 2004 Ford 550 Brush truck (Brush 21) and a grant from the Texas Forest Service for a brush truck, a 2005 Ford 550 (Brush 23).

The department's most unusual apparatus is called 'SR71'. This is a 6WD ATV with a small skid unit. Take a look at the apparatus page for a picture. A couple of members entered a contest and won this vehicle for the department from US Smokeless Tobacco. It arrived in early 2007. The department outfitted the vehicle, adding a roof, windshield, skid unit, and lights. It will be used for search/rescue as well as helping out on large wildland fires, whether it be helping to mop up, put out spot fires, or put a wet line to protect structures.

When Bastrop Emergency Services District 1 was formed in November 2003, Bluebonnet VFD became a contracted service provider for ESD1. This has brought much needed funding to allow the department to grow and remain a viable fire fighting force for the future. The ESD purchased a Class A engine (Pierce Contender Pumper) which we call Engine 7. The ESD obtained a pumper/tanker and an engine to replace our current Engine 8 and Engine 9. The ESD will also replace the current Squad 41 with a new vehicle. These expenditures by the ESD, combined with other expenditures previously noted, brings our apparatus up to current times and we are extremely thankful.

For those really paying attention, you may have noticed a new building on Still Forest. This building was built with funds from the LCRA, Bluebonnet Electric, and the ESD. This building allows us to expand the number of apparatus we currently can hold as well as allowing expansion for future growth.

The department has two paid staff positions. The original two paid staff members started February 21, 2005. They have been a huge help to the department, and their benefit is shown daily.

Our coverage area has also grown in recent times. In April of 2005 we merged Bluebonnet VFD with 969 VFD following the decision of the 969 VFD's board of directors to dissolve the 969 department. When the 812 department dissolved Bluebonnet and 5 Points split 812's coverage area, adding even more to our area of coverage.

There have been a lot of changes since the start of the department, and it continues to evolve each and every month. It is with the help of your tax dollars to the ESD as well as your private donations that help us be who we are. And we thank you for every last penny that you give to us, and we promise to spend the money wisely to continue serving the community with dependable and professional levels of service.

In Memory Of Leon Miller

Founding member Leon Miller passed away on Thursday March 15, 2007. We will forever remember the work he did to start this department, and will forever honor his memory.