Dec 19, 2025
LAGUNA VISTA, Texas – The Laguna Vista Fire-Rescue soon will replace outdated air tanks and breathing gear with new units that meet national standards, thanks to a $17,725 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.
The community grant, along with $5,909 in matching funds from the volunteer fire department, will enable the Laguna Vista Fire-Rescue to purchase three new breathing units to equip firefighters with modern, lifesaving respiratory protection, enhancing both firefighter safety and the department’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
“Each firefighter entering a structure needs a reliable air supply to stay safe,” Fire Chief Neil Waters said. “Without it, the risk is life threatening. With this funding, we’re equipping our team properly to operate in environments containing smoke, toxic gases and low oxygen. That not only protects our firefighters but also translates directly into faster, safer emergency responses and a higher potential for saving lives in our community.”
Waters said the grant enabled the department to purchase multiple self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA, units at once.
"Grants like this are critical for smaller departments like ours," Waters said. "Without it, we would have had to find funding elsewhere, which is increasingly difficult. Typically, we could only afford to replace one SCBA per year, but this grant allows us to replace three outdated packs at once, keeping our equipment up to standard and our firefighters safe. It really puts us three years ahead and ensures we’re not using gear that’s going out of compliance."
The volunteer fire department serves the community of Laguna Vista and regularly provides mutual aid to Port Isabel and South Padre Island.
This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/grants.