SANDY HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
Address: 203 Granite Shoals, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657
Email address for the Volunteer Fire Department is: sandyharborvfd@gmail.com
SANDY HARBOR VFD OFFICERS
Doug Hindelang, President 512-297-9873
Paul Danna, Vice President 512-801-9944
Susan Gonzalez, Treasurer 214-437-3916
Stephanie Langseth, Secretary 703-868-7177
Chris Johnson, Asst. Fire Chief 210-669-1520
The Volunteer Fire Department Training Meetings are held the 2nd Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. at the SHVFD Fire Hall. The Annual Sandy Harbor Volunteer Fire Department Meeting & Election of Officers is held each year on the 3rd Saturday of June at 10 a.m. at the SHVFD Fire Hall. Board Meetings are held monthly or as needed. All meetings are open to Sandy Harbor property owners
FOR LOCK COMBINATION ACCESS TO THE BURN PILE:
Larry Smith, Fire Chief 830-385-5355
Doug Hindelang, President 512-297-9873
Paul Danna, Vice President 512-801-8844
AGAIN, IT WAS CLOSE TO HOME!
Every year our neighborhood has been threatened by wildfires. On the 6th and 7th of May, we could all see and smell the smoke covering our entire neighborhood. It resulted from a fire on the Smith Ranch off CR-311, which burned 35-acres. It is suspected that it began from a lightning strike. High praise to the five Fire Departments that helped put out the fire, along with praise to the TX-FS for their remarkable helicopter support. With the number of acres of ranchland along CR-311, the dry vegetation/high temperatures, this fire could have been much worse than it was, without the rapid actions from all responders. Our only protection from wildfires are fully functioning fire departments.
This isn’t the only fire that has been so close to home. In 2018 and 2020, there were multiple wildfires very close to our entrance onto CR-311, in Horseshoe Bay, and in the Blue Lakes and Trails Developments. Today, at least six wildfires are being fought in LLano County near FM-2233 and CR-306. Our volunteers have been active participants, along with other Departments, helping to put out these and many other fires.
In April of 2022, we mailed donation requests to all residents. THANK YOU to those of you who have already donated to the SHVFD this year. We are somewhat disappointed, however, that we have received responses from only 28% of the neighborhood’s population. PLEASE HELP US IMPROVE THIS NUMBER BY PROVIDING A TAX FREE CONTRIBUTION!
We have four sources of revenue for the year. Your donations, raffle sales, POA park mowing, and a contribution from Llano County that varies in the amount from year-to-year.
Our biggest expense this year and next is the purchase of new hand-held and truck radios. The 10-year lifetime of our radios has expired. The estimated cost of the radios is $25,000-$30,000 for each of the next two years. You think filling up your vehicle is expensive? Three of our diesel trucks have consumed almost $1000 worth of fuel this past month. And there are always unexpected and unbudgeted expenses. We had to replace a turbo on one of the military trucks that cost almost $2000. And our regular structural fire truck that we obtained from Horseshoe Bay has a water leak that will cost over $4000 to fix. During the Smith fire, one of our tires was virtually shredded. The replacement of these tires is approximately $875 each.
We cannot thank you enough for your support in the past. But if you can, please help us again this year by matching or increasing last year’s contribution. The SHVFD is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donations are tax deductible. Your contributions can be made through Venmo to @SandyHarbor-VFD. Or make checks payable to the Sandy Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, and mail them to 203 Granite Shoals Drive, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657.
If you have questions regarding this letter, please call the SHVFD telephone number (830-953-0711); or contact Larry Smith, Fire Chief, at larrynsmith235@gmail.com, or 830-385-5355.File Edit View Insert Format Tools Table Paragraph
Add block