Local foundation pledges to match up to $10K for OVFD

A local foundation has pledged up to $10,000 in matching funds and is challenging Olney residents to help it raise $16,000 to get the city’s embattled volunteer fire department through a busy fire season. The fire department will use the funds to repair vehicles and buy new fire truck tires.

An active fire season has stretched the budget of Olney’s Volunteer Fire Department and battered its equipment as crews struggle to maintain vehicles that are being torched in numerous grass fires, Fire Chief Clint Pulliam told the City Council March 14.

Pulliam reported nine auto accidents, 17 grass fires, one structure fire, one false alarm and three other calls about gas meters and helping police search for lost children in January and February.

The dry weather in March ushered in “call after call” about grass fires, Pulliam said. “In March, we probably have had 20 calls,” he told the council.

“We have had issues with our water truck. Other counties have been bringing water for us… and over the weekend, our large six-by truck’s transfer case went out. We found some remands and used ones, and I think we can [buy] one in our budget. We have lots of guys in our department who can fix it.”

The chief said the department has “been blowing tires left and right” when the vehicles are exposed to extreme heat. “I think we are going to be in our budget, but if we don’t have a change in our weather pattern, we are going to be in trouble.”

Pulliam said the trucks have blown eight tires since the fire season began. In addition to the tires, the department needs a transfer case and injectors for the water truck, he said.

“I think it’s super important,” Pulliam said of the fundraiser. “I think people just don’t realize the expense. A lot of it is stumps and fences we run over too. A lot of times, these fires can entrap you, and that’s where we get in such a bad place. I think it’s a great idea.”

Anyone interested in contributing to the fundraiser should send donations to Olney Volunteer Fire Department at P.O. Box 352, Olney, Texas 76374. The donations made to Olney Volunteer Fire Department are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The Young County Commissioners reissued a burn ban the day of the council meeting, just two weeks after lifting it and days before fires burned 128 acres off FM 3329 south of town, 566 acres off Calvin Road, and a backyard near Olney Country Club.

“This little bit of rain that we got (March 21), what’s going to happen is the grass is going to green up. With the wind blowing like it is, it’ll dry this moisture extremely fast. Until that grass greens up a little bit more, I feel like we are still gonna have these issues,” Pulliam said. “That might take two or three weeks.”