Victoria (TX) Fire Department

The Victoria Fire Department (VFD) serves a population of over 100,000, and for the last year and a half the department has received help from the Victoria Civilian Fire Academy Alumni (VCFAA), a registered Fire Corps program. The VCFAA is comprised of 30 members of all ages, genders, backgrounds, and levels of experience. The one thing they all have in common is the desire to support and supplement resource-constrained fire and emergency service organizations in the Victoria area.
Since it was created, VCFAA has more than doubled in membership and logged a total of over 2,000 hours of service assisting the efforts of the VFD. The team is officially recognized by the State of Texas as a nonprofit entity and has become a 501(c)(3) organization. As such, they are able to receive tax deductible gifts, corporate and individual donations, and qualify for more grants. VCFAA was recently awarded a large corporate grant for its continuous efforts to educate the community about fire safety.
All of the VCFAA members have graduated from the Victoria Civilian Fire Academy, where they learn hands-on fire safety skills. The majority of the members have also graduated from the local Civilian Police Academy, where they receive training similar to that which police officers go through. Over half of the members received the Distinguished Citizens Award for devoting thirty-six hours of their time to learn about Victoria’s city government and infrastructure.
Currently, VCFAA members are in the process of being trained by the Texas Department of State Health Services for the Strategic National Stockpile program, which uses the help of citizens in case of a Pandemic Flu or bio-terrorism disaster. They are also working with the Victoria Emergency Management Office to receive Community Emergency Response Team certification.
During Fire Prevention Week, the VCFAA assisted the VFD in its Fire Prevention Week Fire Safety Program. Over 7,000 children from area schools participated in the annual event. VCFAA members helped put on a colorful fire safety musical production for the children. The older children were given tours of the ambulance and medical evacuation helicopter, plus they were able to experience firefighting activities firsthand with the local firefighters by spraying water from the fire hose, watching a Jaws of Life demonstration, and witnessing their teachers repelling from a suspended lift after donning safety gear.
The VCFAA raised money to sponsor a team of VFD firefighters to participate in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge competition. The VFD team showed off their firefighting skills along with teams from all across the country. The competition starts with regional events in the U.S. and Canada, and culminates in a world championship.
Additionally, the VCFAA also assists the VFD in many areas, including:
- Providing rehabilitation services to firefighters and emergency responders at fire and disaster scenes
- Aiding in hurricane evacuations and preparedness planning, including assisting in simulation exercises
- Offering clerical support when needed
- Recording and cleaning de-commissioned firefighting bunker gear that is sent to an outside agency, re-vitalized, and then recycled back to requesting fire departments
- Showcasing the VFD and the Fire Corps team in various parades and special events throughout the year
- Visiting schools to judge fire prevention posters
- Setting up booths at the local mall, warehouse stores, and the local zoo to provide fire safety information and smoke alarms to both children and adults
- Cooking and delivering Thanksgiving goodies to each local fire station during the holiday
Over this past year, VCFAA members have donated over 1,500 hours. Currently, the VCFAA is planning to assist with a ribbon cutting ceremony for Victoria’s new fire station, including giving tours to the public. They are also conducting fundraisers in order to purchase an inflatable Fire Safety House that will teach children fire safety tips in a fun and interactive way.
“I think the Fire Corps team has done a fine job of interacting with the city active forces, such as the emergency management, police, and of course the fire department,” said Jeb Brian Lacey, Emergency Management Coordinator for Victoria City/County. “I believe it is very important that we keep the volunteers involved – beginning with the education to the exercises – so they will be more in tune to a real life scenario, and feel better prepared to help. It also helps the leaders know they have this added trained resource to call on.”
If you would like to learn more about Victoria Fire Department or the VCFAA Fire Corps program, contact Jeanie Fossati at jeanie@suddenlink.net.
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