Discussion About Volunteer Fire Departments

Smoke rising from a burned field under a blue sky, with a vehicle near the center.
Fire truck with firefighters posing in front of it at a sunny industrial site
Three firefighters in gear standing on a smoky balcony, one raising a fist.
Group of uniformed award recipients holding certificates on a stage with police-style banners and lights
Four people in a wood-paneled room, one seated in a wheelchair, with a red banner and award sign behind them.
Firefighters spraying water on a burned field near a smoking brush fire, with a pointing hand in the foreground

Recently, there has been considerable discussion about volunteer fire departments, the resources we need, and the funding required to serve a rapidly growing community. Public discussion is healthy, and we respect the responsibility of elected officials to ask difficult questions. Responsible stewardship of taxpayer and donor dollars demands it.


Here are a few of the questions we've heard.


"You don't need mutual aid." - Mutual aid and automatic aid are cornerstones of the fire service. Emergencies don't happen one at a time, don't respect jurisdictional boundaries, and don't wait for the "right" department to become available. We assist neighboring agencies, and they assist us. Working together strengthens emergency response across Kendall County and beyond.


"Why do you need a UTV or boat?" - These are specialized rescue tools used where fire apparatus and ambulances cannot safely travel, including parks, ranches, trails, flood-prone areas, and remote properties. They help us reach people faster while improving firefighter safety.


"The county has medics." - We value our partnership with Kendall County EMS. Bergheim VFD is an Advanced Life Support First Responder organization, this allows us to begin critical patient care before EMS arrives and provide additional personnel during complex emergencies. Minutes matter.


"You're padding your call volume." - No. Every incident is documented in ImageTrend and follows established reporting and audit standards. One incident report is created per call—regardless of how many apparatus respond on the call. Accurate data helps us identify trends, measure performance, and plan for future needs.


"You're asking for too much funding." - Our proposal reflected the actual cost of operating a 24/7 combination fire department with the part-time/volunteer model. We presented the full cost so the Commissioners Court could make informed decisions based on complete and transparent information.


"You don't need an Emergency Services District (ESD)." - Whether an ESD is appropriate is a decision for the community and its voters. Our responsibility is to identify long-term funding needs and explain the resources required to sustain emergency services as our area grows.


"The county has money." - The County must balance many essential services. We respect that responsibility while fulfilling ours: advocating for the emergency service needs of our community.


This year, Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department presented the full cost of continuing to build our 24/7 staffing model by adding one additional part-time firefighter and one volunteer firefighter to each shift. This moves us closer to a four-person response, improving firefighter safety and supporting the intent of the nationally recognized 2-in/2-out standard.


It is also important to understand that Texas counties are not required to fund volunteer fire departments. Any county funding represents an investment in public safety, and we are grateful that Kendall County continues to partner with volunteer fire departments to meet the emergency needs of our communities.


We sincerely thank the Kendall County Commissioners Court for hearing our proposal and considering our request. While our full proposal was not funded, the Court approved a 5% increase to our operating budget and an additional $40,000 in personnel funding, matching the additional personnel support provided to Comfort Volunteer Fire Department.


We especially thank  Andra M. Wisian, Kendall County Commissioner Precinct 2 for taking the time to meet and understand our operational needs and the realities of providing dependable emergency services in a growing community.


We will continue to train.

We will continue to improve.

We will continue to evaluate our performance.

We will continue to be responsible stewards of every dollar entrusted to us.


We will continue to work alongside our partners throughout Kendall County and neighboring communities.


And most importantly, we will continue to answer the call—day or night—with professionalism, compassion, and urgency.


Because when your family calls 911, the debate is over.


What matters is that someone is coming. Someone who is trained.Someone who is equipped.Someone who is ready.


That is who we will continue to be for Bergheim, Kendall County, and every neighboring community that asks for our help. #bergheimtx #volunteerfirefighterAlamo Springs Volunteer Fire DepartmentBoerne Fire DepartmentComfort VFDKendalia Volunteer Fire DepartmentSisterdale Volunteer Fire DepartmentWaring Tx Fire-Rescue Kendall County Office of Emergency Management & Fire Marshal Kendall County EMS Archangel Event Medicine@followers (photos courtesy of Alamo Area Fire Photography, LLC and BergheimVFD)