OUR TURN: Recent wildfires show importance of ESDs

If anyone requires a reason why volunteer fire departments in this area need an emergency services district to help pay for equipment and training, they should look at the huge wildfires that scorched Central Texas the past few weeks.

In Spicewood, a Sept. 4 blaze that continued flaring up for four days closed down a highway, a school, led to the evacuation of hundreds, torched 6,500 acres and damaged or destroyed 67 homes.

It was worse in Bastrop County, where what is believed to be the largest wildfire in Texas history claimed 34,000 acres, destroyed or damaged 1,400 homes, led to the evacuation of thousands and claimed two lives.

Although professional — meaning paid — fire companies responded to these blazes, so did the men and women of all-volunteer departments. In fact, they responded several times, again and again, day or night, sometimes running from one hot spot to another with barely any time to catch their breaths, much less sleep.

They had to put on hold jobs, families and obligations to protect residents in rural areas who had nowhere else to turn for fire protection. Companies such as the Spicewood Volunteer Fire Department and the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department are among the first to respond to these blazes and the last to leave.

And they do it for free, with only a marginal stipend given by the county. Their only other recourse is to hold bake sales, golf tournaments, bull rides and other fundraisers. That’s a lot of extra time for only a small gain. And don’t forget, the volunteers — like many of us — work full-time jobs. Hopefully, they have sympathetic employers who understand the importance of their “other” job that involves saving lives and property.

There is an answer to making the lives a little easier for these hardworking, dedicated souls who make our lives a little safer.

It’s called an emergency services district, or ESD.

An ESD is a taxing entity that can levy up to 10 cents per $100 property valuation to pay for fire and sometimes emergency medical services. An ESD has an appointed board.

The Burnet County commissioners recently ordered an election for ESD No. 3 in the Granite Shoals area and ESD No. 6 in the Marble Falls area.

The election is set for Nov. 8.

Both initiatives failed by a handful of votes in 2009.

The Granite Shoals and Marble Falls ESDs are proposed for fire protection.

When one considers the enormity of the recent fires and how thinly stretched local firefighters were (and continue to remain so), an ESD makes a lot of sense.

The Spicewood fire is a good example. While nearly 70 homes were lost or damaged, another 92 were saved.

Just think how much more could have been done if the volunteers had the funds for the resources they say are needed — new trucks and other apparatus, as well money for additional training and conferences.

The volunteers already are doing an awesome job. And they want to keep doing it. But they need help. That’s why the public should support the new ESDs.

This is nothing novel. Six already have been voted into existence in Burnet County.

“The biggest reason for us considering an ESD is planning for the future, enhancing training and enhancing our apparatus,” said Chief Terry White of the Marble Falls volunteers at a recent meeting.

Monies from the county and fundraisers are no longer enough to keep up with fuel costs, maintenance and other demands on the nonpaid-department’s time and services.

The worst-case scenario? That someday the volunteer fire departments completely run out of money. In that case, the men and women of these fire companies still will have the dedication to do what they must, but not the tools.

The outcome could make these latest fires seem small by comparison.