Help area firefighters beat the heat

A 90-word post that recently appeared on North Cherokee Volunteer Fire Department’s social media page brings home the reality of how an East Texas heatwave is impacting the work of volunteer departments who are more and more often responding to calls to battle area fires caused by dry conditions and heat.

“Just a little stress a Volunteer Fire Department has. So far this month we have used $833 in fuel. THE MONTH IS NOT OVER YET. On top of our normal bills, we also have truck repairs, so that we can respond whenever an emergency comes in. Having a small budget, we rely on our community to help with donations and support fund-raising efforts. Please support your local VFD in your community!! You can PM us here (on Facebook) or text me to find out how you can support North Cherokee Volunteer Fire Department.” 

While the message specifically refers to North Cherokee’s department, really, it’s every volunteer department across the region that is facing the challenges that NCVFD describes.

Keep them in your prayers for safety and for quick resolution to these calls. And then contact your local department to see what their specific needs are. 

Funds are always welcome, as are bottled water and other supplies to help these men and women stay quenched while they are out in the unrelenting heat doing their best to keep burns under control, and, ultimately, extinguished. 

It’s a great way for our communities to show support and offer thanks for all that our volunteer firefighters do. 

Below are the volunteer departments that serve Cherokee County and how to contact them:

• Alto Volunteer Fire Department, 404 W. San Antonio, Alto, TX 75925; 936-858-4711

• Bullard VFD, 215 S. Houston St., Bullard, TX 75757; firechief@bullardvfd.org; 903-894-7143. The department also accepts contributions via PayPal.

• Earle’s Chapel Volunteer Fire Department, 3289 US Highway 79, Jacksonville, TX 75766; 903-589-9282

• Gallatin Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 95, Gallatin, TX 75764; gallatinfd@yahoo.com; 903-683-6000 

• Jacksonville Fire Department, 911 S. Bolton St., Jacksonville, Texas 75766; 903-586-7131

• Maydelle Volunteer Fire Department, 175 FM 2138, Maydelle, TX, 75772; 903-795-3470

• New Summerfield VFD, 342 FM 235 E, New Summerfield, TX 75780; 903-726-3568 

• North Cherokee VFD, P.O. Box 8526, Jacksonville, TX 75766; jsides76@gmail.com; 903-721-0807

• Reklaw VFD, 530 Nacogdoches St., Reklaw, TX; 936-369-9917 

• Rusk Fire Department, 219 S. Main St. Rusk, TX 75785; ruskchief@yahoo.com; 903-683-2211

• Troup VFD, 707 W. Noble St., Troup, TX 75789; 903-730-6113; troupvfd@gmail.com

• Wells VFD, 159 Homer Road, Wells, TX,