Thanks to Water Valley Volunteer Fire Department

By Tad Emert Is A Former Teacher And Coach.

I owe a debt that will be hard to repay, but for the rest of my life I will try. Some readers know me. I coached and taught at Grape Creek, Lake View and Central for 35 years. I figure that I taught roughly 5,000 students, and those of them reading this article know I mean what I say and I will strive to pay this debt.

My home is on FM 2034 between Water Valley and Robert Lee. The road is closed as I write, but instead of "Road closed," the sign should read "Heroes at Work."

Fire has burned more than half my ranch but the Water Valley Volunteer Fire Department, assisted by Robert Lee, Sterling City and Carlsbad VFDs, saved my home and the homes of my neighbors. The story doesn't really start there, however.

In 2009, I had quadruple heart bypass surgery and my lifestyle drastically changed. I could no longer do as much for myself. The Water Valley VFD doesn't just fight fires; it serves the community as well. I was one of those projects.

They knew that I shoot long-range rifle competition and built a 1,000-yard rifle range on my ranch. I tried to help, but if I picked something up, someone took it away from me.

I started to repay my debt by holding shoots and donating the proceeds to the WVVFD. Last year's shoot raised $3,500. Some of the sponsors were Field & Stream, Banister Plumbing, The Outdoorsman, Porter Henderson, Les & Roscoe Turner Ranch, the Glass Ranch and the Water Valley Oil Cartel. I plan to hold these shoots annually and donate the proceeds to the WVVFD.

Now I have a new debt. The same people just saved my home and half my ranch. By the way, the rifle range is kept plowed and it was used as a fire line. The range saved not only my home, but also those ranches and homes to the west of me. I guess that means their good deed of two years ago saved my home two years later.

I'm not saying the WVVFD did it all. My range was used as a staging area for volunteers from all over. I won't try to name people because I would leave someone out and all deserve only the best.

At one time there were two spotter helicopters, four dozers, two 18-wheel water haulers, a track loader, four maintainers and more ranch pickups with cattle sprayers on them than I could count. They were all privately owned and unpaid volunteers with only one question of the WVVFD chief: "How can I help?"

I don't know many of their names, but God knows them all. My wife and I thank all these people from the bottom of our hearts.

Working on the volunteer trucks were men and women who, in their professional lives, are welders, machinists, oil workers, small business owners, nurses, staff from the Carlsbad Center, ranchers, retirees and people from all walks of life. These people were going in harm's way to help others.

I asked one man who has been here for three days if his boss would be upset that he missed so much work and he replied that the man and his wife were "good people." Enough said. Isn't it great to live in Texas?

On April 16 a man showed up with a truckload of high school and college age men. They were suited up and placed with experienced men to learn how heroes conduct themselves. I overheard the chief give them their first lesson. He said, "First we save the people, then we save their homes, then the livestock and then we fight fire. Listen to your truck boss, do what they tell you, and be safe yourself."

I taught many young men and women for 35 years, but he and those bosses taught them duty, sacrifice, service and honor in only one long night.

I owe a great debt to more people and departments than I can ever repay. That said, I've chosen one department to try to repay. I have chosen the one that I owe the most to — the WVVFD. These men and women who fight fires and set up the staging areas are deserving of our help.

They have only a metal shed to store some of their trucks and equipment. It has a dirt floor and no restroom. Please help build them an insulated fire station with concrete floors, restrooms, sleeping bunks and a place to clean up, repair their equipment and rest before they go out again. This is an opportunity for each of you to fight fire and be a hero!

A shoot held once a year is not enough. I ask each of you to help. When I was teaching at Lake View a little girl named Jessica was trapped in a well. My classes raised $1,800 in two days to send to the rescue workers. I know how Texans step up in bad times. Please send your donation made out to the WVVFD Inc. Building Fund to Crockett National Bank, P.0. Box 591, San Angelo, TX 76902.

I thank you in advance for your help. I would also like to thank the firefighters from New Waverly, near Houston. When I remarked that they had come a long way to help, they said, "You came to help us after the hurricane. We are just repaying your good deed."