Ponder Volunteer Fire Department

Ponder Volunteer Fire Department Ponder Volunteer Fire Department is a not for profit organization dedicated to providing quality fire and emergency medical services to the community

Ponder Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1937 by residents of the Town of Ponder. The department started with 1 truck and a couple of dedicated members, and has grown to 6 trucks and 19 active members now. We strive through fundraising efforts to provide our members with modern equipment and training to provide the best possible service to the residents and transients in our district. O

ur members are assigned to shifts, which provide our citizens with a quality response, and allows our members to spend some time with their families. We require all members to attend weekly training throughout the year and ask them to give their time to outside training as well. We currently hold one major fundraiser per year. Frontier Days is held annually the first Saturday of June. Events are planned and ran by our members, the Lady VIPS of Ponder and other local residents. Thank you to those that support us both monetarily and with your precious gift of time.

🌟 Member of the Week 🌟This week, we are proud to recognize Devyn Healy as our Member of the Week!Devyn joined the Ponder...
08/31/2026

🌟 Member of the Week 🌟

This week, we are proud to recognize Devyn Healy as our Member of the Week!
Devyn joined the Ponder Volunteer Fire Department in 2023 and has quickly become a dependable and hardworking member of our team. Since joining the department, he has consistently shown a strong commitment to learning, improving his skills, and serving the citizens of Ponder with professionalism and pride.

One of Devyn's biggest accomplishments has been the dedication he's shown toward advancing his fire service career. He has worked exceptionally hard to earn his SFFMA Firefighter I and Firefighter II certifications, taking an important step toward becoming a fully certified firefighter. His determination, willingness to learn, and commitment to his training reflect the type of firefighter he strives to be.

Whether responding to emergency calls, taking part in training, or assisting around the station, Devyn consistently steps up without hesitation and is always ready to help wherever he is needed. His upbeat attitude, strong work ethic, and commitment to the department have earned him the respect of his fellow members and made him a valued part of the PVFD family.

Devyn's commitment to continuing his education and developing his skills is an excellent example of the dedication required in the fire service. We are proud of everything he has accomplished so far and look forward to watching him continue to grow as a firefighter and leader within our department.

What motivated you to work toward earning your SFFMA Firefighter I & II certifications?
To be a part of something bigger than myself, and I love this job and the family I have come to know

What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Ponder Volunteer Fire Department?
I enjoy the camaraderie and the sense of family we have here

What are your future goals in the fire service now that you've earned your Firefighter I & II certifications?
I plan to get my EMT and to hopefully join the department in a full-time position, then to have a long and dedicated career in the fire service

Congratulations, Devyn, on being selected as this week's Member of the Week! Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to serving the Ponder Volunteer Fire Department and the community we are proud to protect. We can't wait to see what you accomplish next!

We have cases of drinking water available at the Ponder Fire Station, and a drive-through water distribution site is als...
08/25/2026

We have cases of drinking water available at the Ponder Fire Station, and a drive-through water distribution site is also available at Ponder Junior High for anyone in our community who may need it.

The Town of Ponder Public Works team, along with their contractors, is working diligently to restore the water system to normal operations. Once the system is fully back online, additional testing and required procedures will be completed to ensure the water is safe for drinking.

These safeguards are in place for situations just like this, and our Town staff takes that responsibility seriously. Their focus is not only on restoring service, but doing so in a manner that protects the health and safety of our community.

Please keep our Public Works crews, contractors, Town staff, and community leadership in your thoughts as they work through this issue. We also ask everyone to extend them patience and grace as they continue working to get things back to normal.

Situations like this are certainly inconvenient, but we are fortunate to have dedicated people working hard behind the scenes for our community.

If you need drinking water, please stop by the fire station or use the drive-through distribution site at Ponder Junior High.

If you are in dire need of drinking water or are unable to come pick it up yourself, please reach out to the Ponder Fire Station or Ponder Police Department. We will work together to make sure water can get to those who truly need assistance.

Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and for continuing to look out for one another. This is what community is all about.

God bless our great little town!

Denton County has issued a burn ban! Please be careful!
08/25/2026

Denton County has issued a burn ban! Please be careful!

08/25/2026

As I sit here listening to this brief but much-needed thunderstorm roll through, I can’t help but reflect on the work of Ponder VFD and our neighboring departments over the past two days.

Between Ponder and Krum, our crews responded to two 100+ acre grass fires that were brought under control quickly because we have great people who know how to work together to protect our communities.

In both incidents, a combination of paid staff and volunteers responded quickly, developed solid strategic plans, and went to work. Our volunteers continue to play a critical role in that response. Without them, additional resources would have been coming from farther away, causing some delays while waiting for county or TIFMAS strike teams and other resources to arrive.

Through smart initial resource allocation, good decision-making, and the effective use of natural fire breaks, crews were able to make short work of fires that had the potential to become much larger incidents.

As Fire Chief of Ponder, I am incredibly proud of the team we have built. Every member contributes to our mission day in and day out, and when the “big ones” happen, they come together seamlessly. Just as importantly, they work right alongside our neighboring departments as one team with one mission — protecting our communities.

There is no “I” in teamwork, and calls like these prove it.
More importantly, there is no “I” in leadership either. Great organizations do not revolve around one person. It’s not about me, and it’s not about now. Leadership is about building people, developing trust, and creating a team that can succeed together today and long into the future.

Seeing that kind of leadership and teamwork displayed over the last two days makes me extremely proud.

Thank you to every member of Ponder Volunteer Fire Department for your dedication and commitment to our community. Thank you to our immediate neighbors at Justin Fire Department and Krum Fire Department, and thank you to the many other departments, agencies, and individuals who came together to help with these fires.

And to our community, one very important reminder:
WE ARE UNDER A BURN BAN.

Conditions are extremely dry right now, and fires can start and spread incredibly fast. Please, please, please be careful with anything that could create a spark or ignition source.

We were fortunate that neither of these fires involved structures. With conditions the way they are right now, that can change very quickly.

Take care of one another, stay vigilant, and stay safe.

08/24/2026

💧 Water Leak Notice 💧

🌟 Member of the Week 🌟This week, we are proud to recognize Billy Welch as our Member of the Week!Billy joined the Ponder...
08/24/2026

🌟 Member of the Week 🌟

This week, we are proud to recognize Billy Welch as our Member of the Week!
Billy joined the Ponder Volunteer Fire Department in 2022 and has become known as a dedicated, dependable, and outstanding member of our department. From the moment he joined, Billy has consistently demonstrated what it means to be a team player. Whether responding to emergency calls, attending training, helping around the station, or stepping up wherever he's needed, he is always willing to put in the time and effort to support both the department and our community.

Billy has earned the respect of his fellow members through his strong work ethic, positive attitude, and commitment to continuous learning. He approaches every opportunity with professionalism and a willingness to improve, making him someone others can count on when the job needs to get done. His dedication to serving others and representing the department with pride is evident in everything he does.

One of Billy's greatest strengths is his reliability. No matter the situation, he is always ready to answer the call, support his fellow firefighters, and do whatever is needed to help the team succeed. His commitment to the fire service and the citizens of Ponder reflects the values we strive to uphold every day.

Billy's contributions have had a positive impact on our department, and we are grateful to have him as part of the PVFD family. Thank you, Billy, for your hard work, dedication, and selfless service. We appreciate everything you do and look forward to seeing all that you continue to accomplish.

Q&A:

What made you want to become a firefighter?
I've always wanted to be a firefighter. It was a life goal of mine. I grew up around it and fell in love from a very young age. Seeing everyone treat each other like family and the bond. Mixed with the seriousness and being there for people on their worst days.

What do you enjoy most about being part of PVFD?
I definitely enjoy the bond we all have together. We laugh, we joke, and have fun together. Then when tones drop, it's like a switch flips and you get the hardest-working group of people you could ask for. PVFD has led to me meeting some of my best friends because of both atmospheres. Another thing I enjoy is our training mindset. We spend a ton of hours training aggressively to be proficient and experts at our job, while also expanding our knowledge into calls we don’t always see a lot of, but still need to know.

What motivates you to continue volunteering?
I continue volunteering to better myself as a person and a firefighter, but more importantly, to serve a community I have fallen in love with even without living in Ponder.

Congratulations, Billy, on being selected as this week's Member of the Week! Your dedication and commitment truly make a difference.

08/23/2026

Update on January Ln Fire: Fire is now under control with all forward progression stopped. Incoming apparatus has been cancelled and fire is now being mopped up

🚒 Rig Rundown: Brush 653 🚒This month, we're highlighting Brush 653, the largest of our three brush trucks and a vital as...
08/06/2026

🚒 Rig Rundown: Brush 653 🚒

This month, we're highlighting Brush 653, the largest of our three brush trucks and a vital asset for protecting the Ponder community and the surrounding areas of Denton County.

Brush 653 is built on a Freightliner 4x4 chassis powered by a Cummins diesel engine and equipped with a 300 GPM diesel-powered pump. Designed by Daco with a custom-built brush bed, this apparatus is built to tackle the demanding conditions of wildland firefighting.

One of Brush 653's biggest strengths is its firefighting capabilities. It carries a 1,000-gallon water tank, giving crews a substantial onboard water supply for battling fast-moving grass and brush fires. It is also equipped with two whip lines, one on each side of the truck, allowing firefighters to quickly begin fire attack operations from either side of the apparatus. In addition, Brush 653 features a 100-foot hose reel, providing another fast and effective option for attacking smaller fires, mop-up operations, and structure protection.

Another standout feature is its Sidewinder remote-controlled front-mounted nozzle, allowing firefighters to begin attacking a fire from inside the cab when conditions require it. The truck also has front bumper spray nozzles and a 15-gallon built-in Class A foam cell, which enhances fire suppression capabilities while improving water efficiency.

Brush 653 is also equipped with wireless Bluetooth communication headsets, allowing firefighters inside and outside the cab to communicate clearly with one another without being tethered to a wired intercom system. This hands-free communication improves crew coordination, increases safety during fast-moving incidents, and allows firefighters to move freely around the apparatus while remaining in constant contact with the driver and other crew members.

Brush 653's primary mission is wildland firefighting, structure protection, and water supply during large incidents. In certain situations, it can also be used as a structural firefighting unit by deploying a single attack line, making it a versatile resource when our community needs it most.

Brush 653 responds throughout the Ponder area and Denton County to help protect lives, homes, businesses, and natural resources from the threat of wildfires.
Brush 653 was made possible through a partnership with the Texas A&M Forest Service, which funded 80% of the apparatus, with the remaining cost covered through department fundraising efforts and the department budget. This investment is a great example of how grant funding, community support, and responsible budgeting come together to provide our firefighters with the equipment they need to serve safely and effectively.

We are proud to have Brush 653 in our fleet and ready to answer the call whenever our community needs us. Whether it's protecting homes from an approaching wildfire, supplying water on a large incident, or supporting neighboring departments through mutual aid, Brush 653 is always ready to serve.

Address

102 E Bailey Street
Ponder, TX
76259

Telephone

(940) 479-2488

Website

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