Many people passing through downtown Houston over the past few of months may have noticed the construction and subsequent new addition at the Houston Rural Fire Association headquarters at Walnut Street and Grand Avenue.
The expansion of the fire station was made possible through a low-interest, seven-year loan secured by the association from the USDA. Funds from the loan were also used for refurbishing two vehicles obtained from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s army surplus property distribution program. Association board members and Fire Chief Don Gaston have also negotiated an agreement with Texas County officials for the deed to the property where the headquarters stands, and the association has taken over operation of the county rescue unit.
The vehicles obtained from the MDC include a 2,500-gallon capacity tanker, primarily for use in fighting structure fires, and a “brush unit” designed for quick response and agility in wild land fire incidents. As part of the MDC program, the association assumed the responsibility of equipping, painting and maintaining the two trucks.
With the addition of the two vehicles, Houston Rural’s fleet now includes four units equipped for structure fire response and three for combating wild land fires.
Board members said numerous hours of volunteer labor were expended to achieve the end result in the building expansion and vehicle refurbishing.
The primary service areas for the rescue unit will be the common boundaries for the Houston and Licking rural fire departments and areas inside both city limits. Mutual aid agreements with surrounding departments will be honored as needed.
Financial support for the rescue unit was received from Houston and Licking, and the association has applied for a Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) grant to upgrade rescue equipment. Similar grants are not available to counties.
Founded in 1952, Houston Rural this fiscal year will be celebrating 62 years of continuous service to the community. The association’s board of directors met recently to review equipment needs and membership dues, as well as several other matters related to operating the volunteer fire department. It was reported that the association has successfully secured another MDC grant for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, with funds going toward equipment necessary for fighting wild land fires.
Gaston said local residents often ask what the difference is between the City of Houston Fire Department and the Houston Rural Fire Association. He explained that the city department is funded by municipal government and is allowed by state law to seek voter approval on sales tax issues to support capital improvement projects, and that its primary service area lies within city limits. He said the rural department is not supported by a local tax levy – as is found in other areas in Missouri – and that its primary service area surrounds city limits and borders service areas of multiple other rural volunteer fire departments.
“Membership dues, donations, insurance claims and successful funding from state and federal grants are what keeps the association going,” Gaston said.
Under the current mutual aid agreement with the Houston city department, Houston Rural’s pumper units are used to fight structure fires and its wild land units are used to battle grass and timber fires within city limits.
The association’s board of directors has indicated it wants to retire the organization’s current debt as soon as possible, while at the same time improving rescue equipment. Board members include John A. Foster, Jack Watson, Gary Huff, Steve Williams, Kyle Hale, Debo McKinney, Darren Scheets and Doug Gaston.
“We are asking the community – city residents, rural residents and our businesses – to consider making a monetary donation to our association,” Watson said.
The association is a non-profit organization, so donations can be used as a tax deduction. Donations can be dropped off at the county clerk’s office in the Texas County Administrative Center on Grand Avenue, or mailed to the Houston Rural Fire Association (P.O. Box 216, Houston, Mo., 65483).
New residents or non-members with questions about rates can contact any board member or call Chief Gaston at 417-217-1747. Non-members are encouraged to join the association, and anyone having questions about membership can call association treasurer Don Troutman at 417-967-2112 or 417-260-1111.
The Houston Rural Fire Association is a volunteer-based operation, so to help limit costs, personnel do not remain at the fire station to receive phone calls or in-person inquiries.
Area residents planning to conduct a controlled burn are urged to first advise the Texas County Sheriff’s Department by calling 417-967-4165.
The association plans in the near future to host an open house at the fire station.