Cassie VFD gets LCRA grant for automated CPR device
LCRA and PEC representatives present a $19,543 grant to the Cassie Volunteer Fire Department for an automated external chest-compression device during a previous community grants cycle. Pictured are (from left) Burnet County Emergency Services District No. 2 Vice President William Proffer, ESD No. 2 President Sharon Barclay, firefighter Nick Ganci and son Benjamin, PEC External Relations representative Jared Fields, LCRA Board of Directors members Carol Freeman, Margaret Voelter, and Michael Allen, Fire Chief Derrick Curtis, firefighter Dre DuPont, VFD member Kim Nave, VFD Treasurer Laura Schneider, PEC External Relations representative Beth Koennecke, and LCRA Regional Affairs representative Susan Patten. Courtesy photo
The Cassie Volunteer Fire Department and EMS will purchase a new automated external CPR device with a $19,543 Community Development Partnership Program grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Pedernales Electric Cooperative.
The volunteer department, which serves the western Burnet County community of Cassie and beyond, contributed $4,886 in matching funds toward the purchase.
The equipment will enable first responders to deliver continuous resuscitation efforts in cardiac emergencies.
“We’re in a rural setting where EMS response can take more time and only one firefighter may be able to respond to a scene,” said VFD Chief Derrick Curtis in an LCRA media release announcing the grant. “When someone is in cardiac arrest, every second counts. Having this device on hand gives that person the best possible chance at survival by ensuring they receive high-quality CPR from the moment we arrive.”
Curtis said the department responds to calls in locations where traditional CPR isn’t always straightforward, such as on moving boats. In addition, he said, the small, all-volunteer team often handles extended emergency calls with limited staffing, which can lead to responder fatigue.
“We have 10 responders in the department, and they’re all volunteers with varying availabilities,” he said. “In an extended CPR situation, a responder may be providing compressions for 20 to 40 minutes, which is physically exhausting. This equipment doesn’t tire, so we know we’ll be able to deliver consistent, effective care throughout the call.”
Cassie VFD responds to emergencies across Burnet County and supports the broader region through mutual aid agreements.
“We’re grateful to LCRA and PEC for their continued support,” Curtis said. “These grants make a real difference for our responders and our communities.”
The community grant is one of 45 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders, and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water, and transmission service areas. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July 2025. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.