Lampasas VFD Calls upon Community for Support

​Lampasas Volunteer Fire Department needs YOU! The Historic department has seen its numbers dwindling with each successive year, due largely in part to scheduling conflicts, says LVFD Chief Tim Weinrich. With a roster of only 8 active members, including the Chief himself, LVFD could really use our help. New recruits will receive CPR and First-Aid training, get assigned a mentor, have the opportunity to get EMS/Fire certified, and have the distinguished honor of calling themselves one of Lampasas’ finest, keeping our community safe.
Established in the 1880s, the Volunteer Fire Department was Lampasas’ first. These firefighters served our community freely until the department was picked up by the City around the 90s and began paying to employ the fighters. Lampasas Fire Department and Volunteer Fire Department share the Fire Annex building on 4th street, with LFD primarily serving the city and LVFD covering those outside of city limits, north to FM 1690 and out towards Kempner to the boundary of KVFD, sometimes assisting to Burnet County as well.
Chief Weinrich has served as LVFD’s leader since October of 2022, working his way from support to firefighter to Captain, and taking over the role from the previous Chief, Randy Lake. When asked what led him to make the decision to take the position, he said it was almost solely due to the limited number of options left to fill Lake’s shoes. “It’s a lot more meetings,” he said, “but I consider myself a ‘working Chief’ versus taking just an administrative role.” And boy does he work! When he’s not at his day job as a full-time employee of the State, Weinrich runs the department as best he can with the skeleton crew he’s got. Last year, the department responded to 346 calls, which amounts to almost one a day, on average, though he admits there are sometimes dry spells with no calls at all and hell weeks where everything happens all at once.
When asked what 3 qualities he thinks make a good firefighter, the Chief put dedication and commitment to the cause, willingness to learn, and a flexible schedule at the top of his wish-list for new recruits. “It’s an adventure!” says Weinrich. “It’s not always the same stuff all the time. I personally started first as support. Then I went on a call during a Spring Ho Parade and fell in love with it.”
If you feel the call to arms, you can pick up an application at the Lampasas Fire Department Annex at 1107 Fourth St here in town. And if we don’t, who will? - MG

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