Buoyed by a large donation from businessman and philanthropist Drayton McLane, Thorndale volunteer firefighters are setting out to build a new fire station to better serve citizens of the area.
The drive for funds started back in June with the firefighters’ annual barbecue.
McLane’s donation to the cause was announced at the Aug. 23 Milam County Commissioners meeting in Cameron.
“We are greatly honored and thankful to have the support of Mr. McLane,” said Steven Zuehlke, who is a firefighter and on the Thorndale City Council. “He is a very generous man who has proven he deeply cares for Milam County. It is truly a blessing to have people like him who give to worthy causes knowing they may not see a direct benefit. We know the citizens of Thorndale and its surrounding area will benefit tremendously from his generous donations. A big thanks is due also to Judge (Steve) Young who connected Mr. McLane to our cause.”
While the fundraising is in its early stage, firefighters and others have been discussing the need for a new station for a good while, Zuehlke said.
“We had been discussing this idea for a long time. There are many people in our growing community and in the surrounding area who are in need of faster emergency response. TVFD is committed to improving this, and this new facility will allow us the capacity to meet those needs. This is a great opportunity to do something big that will make a lasting impact,” he said.
Zuehlke pointed out the thinking behind the need for a new facility.
“We have two reasons. First, the existing fire station built in 1957 is too small to house all of our fire trucks inside,” he said.
“The second, and most important, reason is that we no longer have an ambulance stationed in Thorndale. We previously had a volunteer EMS group with an ambulance. Over time, new regulations limited the aid they were allowed to administer. In 2019, they could no longer find a doctor to sponsor their efforts. So they disbanded. TVFD will build our new fire station with accommodations to house a professional 24/7 ambulance service,” he said. “We are in touch with Milam County to work with us to add another crew for the county stationed in Thorndale.”
The firefighters are still coming up with ways to raise funds for the station and the group’s annual barbecue cookoff will play a big role in funding a new station, he said.
“Each year, we are dedicating all proceeds from our annual barbecue cookoff fundraiser to our fire station building fund,” he said. “We have just concluded an online SnapRaise fundraiser that ran in conjunction with the cookoff this year. We are planning to host drivethrough fish fries throughout the year at the Fire-men’s Recreation Hall. And we have reached out to local families and business owners who have pledged donations of money, material and labor once construction begins.”
You might see firefighters standing at the intersection of Main and US 79 collecting funds in firefighters’ boots, but you will be more likely to see them collecting money at the annual spring car show in downtown Thorndale and at the Christmas parade in the winter, he said.
He added that his group has reached out to the Thorndale Economic Development Board and is continually seeking out grant opportunities.
Once enough funding is secured, the new station will be built on North Main Street in Thorndale.
“The old facility is attached to City Hall and moving the fire trucks and equipment out of there will allow the city to expand into that area, possibly for office expansion or maybe housing city vehicles,” he said.
“We have received great support from our local families and businesses thus far, and we want to thank everyone who has donated. We are well on the way, but still have a ways to go. TVFD has dedicated itself to making sure this facility gets built in the near future, as soon as adequate funds are raised. We encourage anyone who would like to donate to send it to P.O. Box 430, Thorndale, TX 76577,” he said.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.