History
The Cool Rural Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1980 by Jeff Edwards, Barry Holmes, and Johnny Dater to help the community (mostly the small city of Cool). At this time the only fire protection for the area was the small county fire department which ran out of a station in Weatherford. The department owned one bean pole pumping truck which was housed at Dater's Auto Salvage in the City of Cool.
In 1986, with the purchase of additional trucks, the department expanded its territory to encompass not only the City of Cool but also the community of Garner. The name of the department was then changed to the Cool-Garner Volunteer Fire Department.
In 1993, the department built its first fire station. The two bay station was located on school owned property next to Garner I.S.D. Previously all of the department's apparatus were kept at the residence of Barry Holmes on Maddux Road. One year later the department built a second station in the City of Cool. This station had two bays and an office area which would later be transformed into a third bay. In 1998, the department took a low interest loan and built a larger station on the same property as the first station in Garner.This station has four bays. Because of a lack of income and budget deficits the department voted to close the station in Cool in 2008; however, the response area remained the same.
In 2013 with the help of the community the response area was annexed into Parker County Emergency Services District 7. This was a vital move for the department to maintain adequate funding to continue serving the area with functional equipment. With reliable funding coming from the emergency services district, the department was able to purchase a new fire engine at the cost of $350,000. It is the first new fire engine the department has ever owned. The department took delivery in the spring of 2016.
The department has gone through many changes through the
years. With an ever increasing population, call volumes are also increasing. The
department is currently administrated by a Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, and many dedicated volunteers.
In 1986, with the purchase of additional trucks, the department expanded its territory to encompass not only the City of Cool but also the community of Garner. The name of the department was then changed to the Cool-Garner Volunteer Fire Department.
In 1993, the department built its first fire station. The two bay station was located on school owned property next to Garner I.S.D. Previously all of the department's apparatus were kept at the residence of Barry Holmes on Maddux Road. One year later the department built a second station in the City of Cool. This station had two bays and an office area which would later be transformed into a third bay. In 1998, the department took a low interest loan and built a larger station on the same property as the first station in Garner.This station has four bays. Because of a lack of income and budget deficits the department voted to close the station in Cool in 2008; however, the response area remained the same.
In 2013 with the help of the community the response area was annexed into Parker County Emergency Services District 7. This was a vital move for the department to maintain adequate funding to continue serving the area with functional equipment. With reliable funding coming from the emergency services district, the department was able to purchase a new fire engine at the cost of $350,000. It is the first new fire engine the department has ever owned. The department took delivery in the spring of 2016.
The department has gone through many changes through the
years. With an ever increasing population, call volumes are also increasing. The
department is currently administrated by a Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, and many dedicated volunteers.