La Joya, Texas—U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced $1,275,000 in federal funds for the construction of a new fire station in La Joya. The current fire station is nearly 30 years old and does not meet standard building code requirements. The new building will serve the growing population with state-of-the-art construction that can better serve the community in the case of an emergency.

“The new La Joya Fire Station will provide our firefighters with the tools they require to better serve our community. The station will also meet all building requirements to guarantee the safety of our firefighters. This will result in a more efficient service and faster response times for the city of La Joya,” said Congressman Cuellar. “This new station is a top priority for the community and for our fire fighters who risk their lives daily. I want to thank Chief Frankie Joe Salinas and the La Joya Fire Department for their continuous service to our community. Your work is essential for the wellbeing of our citizens.”

“The funding allocated for the new fire station is much needed for our community and the areas our fire department respond too because we will now have a secured building that will be able to house the proper equipment need to fight fires, provide medical attention and respond to vehicle accidents,” said La Joya Fire Chief Frankie Joe Salinas. “This facility will also have a training room that will be utilized by the fire department’s and the police department’s personnel to conduct classroom and hands on training.  Our current facility is not in reliable or proper conditions for storing our equipment or have proper security measure to keeping our personnel safe.”

As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Cuellar continues to prioritize the funding needs of Texas-28 and secured the funding for this project in the FY22 cycle.

The federal funds will cover 75% of the total cost of the new fire station. The total cost of the project is $1,700,000. It is estimated that it will take 12 months to complete the construction of the new station.

Two trucks from two different Grady County (OK) fire stations were struck by cars while responding to a vehicle fire on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike last week, reports chickashanews.com.

Around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Pioneer Fire Station was called to the vehicle fire at mile marker 67, officials say. The department’s brush truck and engine were in the emergency turn-around at mile marker 65, with both deploying their lights and sirens.

The brush truck made the turn, but the engine was hit from behind by a Dodge Challenger that failed to yield, the report says.

Traffic was then diverted to the shoulder before a Nissan Altima rear-ended an on-scene Ninnekah truck, all the while fire officials were trying to finagle the AirEvac’s helicopter landing, according to the report.

Pioneer firefighter Jeremy Unruh, 23, of Cement, was transported by Apache EMS to Grady Memorial where he was treated and released for a head injury. The truck’s driver, Richard Gortney, 53, of Chickasha, was not injured, the report says.

The driver of the Dodge, Wendy Flowers, 50, of Topeka (KS) was transported by AirEvac to OU Medical Hospital, where she was admitted with internal and leg injuries. No injuries were reports for the Ninnekah truck, the Nissan Altima, or the vehicle fire, according to the report.

“I believe everyone involved is or will be okay, but things could’ve ended up much worse,” The Cement Volunteer Fire Department writes on Facebook.

Both apparatus were damaged and are being inspected.

By Captain Rob Whiteman

It is with a heavy heart that we write to inform everyone that the South Bossier (LA) Fire Department has lost one of its members in a tragic accident.

Jessie Henry had been an active member of South Bossier Fire Department for 3 years but started his Firefighting career in Mansfield. Jessie had multiple certifications from firefighting to public safety rescue diver. He had big plans for his fire service career, wanting to start his paramedic at the first of the year, and he wanted to follow in his uncle’s footsteps to go work for a large fire department in Texas.

Jessie genuinely cared about his community; he started a non-profit charity called The Four Quarters Club to help underprivileged children with school supplies. He would always discuss the big plans he had and how much he could help. The Four Quarters Club handed out countless supplies to children at the start of 2021, and he was already getting things together to give even more at the start of the new school year.