• David Tewes •
• Originally published July 7, 2008 at 11:55 p.m., updated July 7, 2008 at 11:55 p.m.

Victoria County’s firefighters could be getting help rescuing stranded patients and dousing remote fires.

The commissioners court agreed Monday to apply for a $57,480 grant to buy four all-terrain vehicles, including rescue and firefighting equipment. The grant is being sought from the M.G. and Lillie A. Johnson Foundation Inc. in Victoria.

Fire Chief Dave Garza with the Telferner Volunteer Fire Department said the four-wheelers can be used for a variety of applications.

“They can be used for medical rescue, even for rescues involving hazardous materials,” he said. “They can be used to get into locations that regular fire trucks or EMS can’t get into.”

County Commissioner Gary Burns said one four-wheeler would be stationed in a central location in each of the four county commissioner precincts.

“Eventually, I’d like to see every fire department get one,” Burns said. There are 11 volunteer fire departments.

Garza said just having the additional four all-terrain vehicles will help.

“They’re really beneficial,” he said. “Anything that benefits a fire department would always be used for saving lives.”

Real-life cases cited in the grant application where a four-wheeler would have made a difference include:

An Alzheimer patient reported missing in a remote wooded area. The person was located after a two-hour search on foot.

A patient suffering from a cut foot on Coleto Creek. The two-hour rescue operation was completed when the person had to be carried to an evacuation location.

Fires in north Victoria County that were inaccessible by fire trucks. Firefighters had to use flappers to control the fires.

The Inez fire department already has a four-wheeler that it purchased. Former County Fire Marshal Kyle Young had also purchased another earlier this year.

Cissy Bonuz, in the county fire marshal’s office, said it is stationed at the Raisin fire department. One reason for putting it there is because it’s on the opposite side of the county from Inez.

“Raisin also has such a large group of active responders,” she said. “They have some with authorization to leave work to go out on calls.”

David Tewes is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6515 or dtewes@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.

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