Bridge City Volunteer Fire & Rescue

Bridge City Volunteer Fire & Rescue Volunteer Fire Department H. Bickford
Vice president J. M. Eshach
Fire Chief Archie Calhoun
Assistant Chief Thomas Spurlock
Fire Marshal John R. Kibbe, Sr.

Organized in 1951 as part of the Bridge City Civil Defense Unit by John Robert Saint and Archie Calhoun, the Bridge City Volunteer Fire Department was chartered on March 26, 1953, and its original officers were:
President W. Saint
Secretary Guy O. Rascoe
Treasurer James R. Bays

First fire apparatus was a 1929 model Chevrolet fire truck donated by Harry Rosen of Port Arthur. Others volunteers soon

joined and in the beginning there were 31 members. In the early 1950s the group met the second and fourth Monday of each month at the fire station that was located on Highway 87 next to Nolton Brown’s Service Station and the post office. By April, 1952 a formal election was held to appoint officers, write a constitution and by-laws. In early 1954 land was purchased for $1,000 from Robert L. where volunteer firefighters built a station. In 1966 the Bridge City Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary was organized. In April, 1977 a sub-station was built on FM 408 at Bessie Heights Road. By 1981 a 12,150 square foot 10-bay central fire station was dedicated on Bland Street. In January 2008 a new fire station in Orangefield on FM 105 was dedicated. Fire chiefs since 1953 include:
Archie Calhoun 1953-1958
Loris Vice 1959
Archie Calhoun 1960-1968
Doyce Sherman 1969
Ray Spiller 1970
Jerry Pesson 1971-1975
Richard Solomon 1976-1980
Jerry Pesson 1981-1983
Paul Fournier 1984-1986
Larry Callahan 1987
Jim Gillespie 1988
Larry Callahan 1989
Jim Gillespie 1990-1991
Larry Callahan 1992-1994
Carroll LeBlanc 1995
Larry Callahan, Carroll LeBlanc & Ray Welch 1996
Larry Callahan 1997-1998
Ross Guilhas 1999-2000
Scott Barnes 2001-2007
Charles Uzzle 2007-2011
Brent Morse 2011-2013
James Fisette 2013-2014
Ricky Bodin 2014-Present

If you had storm damage please report to Orange County Emergency Management
09/02/2026

If you had storm damage please report to Orange County Emergency Management

STORM DAMAGE? REPORT IT.

If your home or property experienced storm-related damage due to Tropical Storm Edouard please take a moment to submit an iSTAT Self-Reporting Survey.

Whether the damage is significant or seems minor, your report is important.

Every report matters. Please share this information with friends, family, neighbors, and community members who may have experienced damage.

Scan the QR code or use the link below:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/344d59d323fd47b3bab8e8cd60b64585?field:incident_id=26-0023%2030AUG%20Tropical%20Weather

Please report.
09/02/2026

Please report.

STORM DAMAGE? REPORT IT.

If your home or property experienced storm-related damage due to Tropical Storm Edouard please take a moment to submit an iSTAT Self-Reporting Survey.

Whether the damage is significant or seems minor, your report is important.

Every report matters. Please share this information with friends, family, neighbors, and community members who may have experienced damage.

Scan the QR code or use the link below:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/344d59d323fd47b3bab8e8cd60b64585?field:incident_id=26-0023%2030AUG%20Tropical%20Weather

Thank you to Claybar Funeral Home for the delicious cookie cake dropped off to the station this morning!
08/03/2026

Thank you to Claybar Funeral Home for the delicious cookie cake dropped off to the station this morning!

Last week, our firefighters trained on drafting operations using two different methods and pieces of equipment.Drafting ...
07/27/2026

Last week, our firefighters trained on drafting operations using two different methods and pieces of equipment.
Drafting is a critical skill for rural firefighting, where hydrants aren’t available. It allows crews to pull water from a static source such as a pond, canal, or even a swimming pool to supply engines during an emergency.
Our firefighters train regularly to keep their skills sharp and ensure they can work quickly and safely when seconds matter.
Thank you to our community for your continued support. It makes this training possible and strengthens our ability to serve you.

07/10/2026

Congratulations to our newest TCFP certified member Toby Armstrong for passing his TCFP exam today.

06/18/2026

We will be hosting a community blood drive on June 20 at 330 Bland Dr. We invite all eligible community members to stop by and donate.
Your contribution can help save lives and directly support those in need within our region. Thank you for standing with us and helping strengthen our community.

Help us congratulate 2 of our Junior Firefighters that graduated high school last Friday, Kadence and Chloe. For their f...
05/26/2026

Help us congratulate 2 of our Junior Firefighters that graduated high school last Friday, Kadence and Chloe.
For their future careers:
Kadence plans to go to Blinn College to become an EMT, and continue her education to become a paramedic.
Chloe plans to be a firefighter paramedic. Congratulations to both of you on all your accomplishments!

05/07/2026

Your help keeps everyone safe.
When you see any vehicle using flashing lights whether it’s fire, EMS, or law enforcement, please slow down, move over, and give responders the space they need to work. This simple action protects the crews coming to help you, and it protects you as well. Every responder has a family waiting for them at home, just like everyone else.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our community safe.

We would like to take a moment to recognize one of our dedicated firefighters, Caden Knott. Caden has been working hard ...
05/01/2026

We would like to take a moment to recognize one of our dedicated firefighters, Caden Knott. Caden has been working hard to further his career by attending the LIT Fire Academy to obtain his fire certifications, all while already holding his EMT‑B. His commitment, punctuality, and strong work ethic have set him apart from day one.

Caden was recently nominated as Top of His Class at the academy and received an award from LIT in recognition of his outstanding performance. In addition to his achievements in training, he currently stands second on the hiring list for one of our local fire departments, a true testament to his drive and professionalism.

Please join us in congratulating Caden on his accomplishments, his dedication to the fire service, and the bright future ahead of him. His hard work does not go unnoticed, and we are proud to have him as part of our team.

We held our annual Awards Banquet this year, celebrating another year of dedication and service to our community. It was...
04/15/2026

We held our annual Awards Banquet this year, celebrating another year of dedication and service to our community. It was a great evening spent with our members, retirees, their families and friends as we recognized outstanding achievements across the department.

2025 Award Recipients

• Officer of the Year: Nathan Fowler
• Medic of the Year: Logan Shonio
• Firefighter of the Year: Logan Shonio
• Junior Firefighter of the Year: Cholie Milstead

Years of Service Recognition

• 5 Years: Hunter Traweek, Guy Geuder
• 10 Years: Elgin Browning, Richard Lasseigne, Taylor Sullivan
• 15 Years: Kevin Dickerson
• 35 Years: Robert Mann

We were grateful to have Cajun Ventures cater BBQ and crawfish for this event and we extend a sincere thank‑you to Chicken Express for donating tea for the event.

To all the individuals recognized above, your commitment to this department and to the citizens we serve does not go unnoticed. And to our community, thank you for your continued support. Please join us in congratulating these outstanding members of our team.

Address

330 Bland Drive
Bridge City, TX
77611

Telephone

+14097352419

Website

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