CCESD #1 residents celebrate new station
Residents and volunteer firefighters in the communities of McLeod, Huffines and Kildare Junction have been working for many years to see a new station complex built for Cass County Emergency Services District #1. On June 11, 2022, the new building will officially open with a community wide celebration. Its two bays will house four trucks and it also provides office, meeting room, restroom and storage spaces.
Originally formed in 1987 as a rural fire prevention district, the name was later changed in 2005 to Cass County ESD#1. Residents and the board of commissioners began working to secure firefighting equipment to provide needed fire protection. Several fundraising organizations were formed including the Ladies Auxiliary Unit and Volunteer Fire fighters Unit. A five member Board of Commissioners is appointed by Cass County Commissioners’ Court to oversee the spending of tax dollars.
The McLeod Volunteers owned only a small building in McLeod that housed a used truck and it was signed over to the new district. In 1988, land was acquired from Atlanta ISD to build a small structure to house a truck at Huffines. In 1990, a structure was erected at Kildare Junction to also hold a truck. For over 25 years, the Ladies Auxiliary members and volunteer firefighters raised funds to support the district goal of having a station and truck in each of the three communities. They hosted bake sales and fish dinners, sold cookbooks, and sponsored annual Trades Days.
A separate office at McLeod was added in 2000. Several used and/or new trucks have been purchased over the years as well as upgrades to stations and equipment. The Kildare Junction station has been closed but residents are still served by other stations.
Pagers, air packs and bunker gear have been provided for our volunteer firefighters. Many of the firefighters have attended Texas A & M fire schools as well as local trainings. Three firefighters have EMT certification.
The first fire chief was Aubrey Doyle, followed by Don Blackwell who served 30 years . The current fire chief is Freddy Mosley. Mary Echols, who has been an active member of our fire district from the beginning, retired her position on the Board of commissioners on December 31, 2021 with 34 years of service. We honored her at our Open House in appreciation of her dedication and continuing support of our Fire district.
Many thanks are offered to area residents and businesses who contributed to the success of our district. We need the continuing support of our communities to volunteer to hold positions on the Board when needed and to become volunteer fire fighters. These are essential to the success of our Fire Department and an asset to our communities. We need your support physically, financially, and spiritually…volunteer, donate to help with our expenses especially with rising prices of fuel and other goods, and pray for our volunteers’ safety and for our communities.