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SAN LEON FIRE - PROJECT #1 — ANOTHER BRUSH TRUCK!

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By Engineer JEFF PITTMAN
November 11, 2026

WHEN YOU SEE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS RAISING MONEY, REMEMBER — IT'S BIGGER THAN A FUNDRAISER!

How many times have you driven down the road and seen volunteer firefighters standing on street corners selling bottled water, cooking brisket sandwiches at the station, hosting annual benefits, or organizing community fundraisers?
Have you ever stopped to think about WHY they're doing it?
Across this great country, volunteer firefighters are raising money for something much bigger than what you see on the surface. They're raising money for LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT, FIRE APPARATUS, AND PROTECTIVE GEAR to keep their communities safe!
Let me give you a little sneak peek into what's happening right here at the San Leon Volunteer Fire Department!
PROJECT #1 — ANOTHER BRUSH TRUCK!
A few years ago, San Leon VFD was awarded a military Humvee. This past year, we were also awarded a grant for a new slip-on firefighting unit!
Cost of the slip-on unit: $45,000
Our department's portion: Approximately $5,000
That means we're able to turn that Humvee into another brush truck, strengthening our fleet and giving us additional resources to protect not only San Leon but also our neighboring communities!
PROJECT #2 — A NEW 3,000-GALLON WATER TENDER!
San Leon VFD has also been awarded a grant toward a new 3,000-gallon water tender!
Total cost: $315,000
Our department's portion: $32,500
Think about that! Through grant assistance, our department has the opportunity to add a major piece of firefighting equipment for a fraction of its full cost!
BUT HERE'S THE BIG PICTURE!
These grants are tremendous opportunities, but volunteer fire departments still have to raise their portion of the money.
That's where YOU, OUR COMMUNITY, COME IN!
The next time you see those young men and women standing on a street corner, selling food, washing cars, or holding a fundraiser, remember something:
THEY ARE NOT JUST RAISING MONEY. THEY ARE RAISING THE MONEY THAT HELPS SAVE LIVES!
These are the same men and women who leave their families, get out of bed in the middle of the night, miss holidays, and sacrifice their personal time to answer a call from a complete stranger.
They don't ask who's calling. They don't ask what you can afford. They simply answer the call because someone needs help.
We want to give a tremendous THANK YOU to the Texas A&M Forest Service for making these grant opportunities available to volunteer fire departments like ours. Your support helps small communities build stronger, safer, and better-equipped emergency response teams.
And to the businesses, donors, families, and community members who continue supporting San Leon Volunteer Fire Department — THANK YOU!
Your donations don't just buy equipment. They help protect homes, families, businesses, and lives.
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER RAISING MONEY, REMEMBER — THAT SMALL DONATION TODAY COULD HELP SAVE YOUR LIFE TOMORROW!
God bless our volunteers, our supporters, and the communities we proudly serve!
San Leon Volunteer Fire Department Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Volunteers Answering the Call.

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Call Statistics

2026 Incidents
Incidents
Jan 68
Feb 69
Mar 70
Apr 44
May 67
Jun 50
Jul 70
Aug 66
Sep 39
Oct 53
Nov 50
Dec 43
Total 689

Past Years
Incidents
2025 688
2024 654
2023 612
2022 598
2021 571
2020 540
2019 563
2018 522
2017 498
2016 470
Total 5716