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Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department

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Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department, Emergency rescue service, 1806 Broadway Ave, Port Bolivar, TX.

PBVFD is a 501c3 non-profit corporation, all-volunteer organization, formed in 1956, to provide fire and rescue service to citizens in Port Bolivar, Texas and neighboring communities on the Bolivar Peninsula.

11/05/2025

We will be putting out the big flags on Saturday November 8 @ 10 am at the Port Bolivar Cemetery for veterans day. Any help would be appreciated.

11/03/2025

Veterans day is November 11. What day is good for everyone to help with putting out the big flags at the Port Bolivar Cemetery? Friday the 7th at 5 o'clock pm or Saturday the 8th at 10 am, let me know so we can get it done

11/01/2025

As you turn back your clocks this weekend be sure to change the batteries in your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and check the pressure in your fire extinguishers, too. Please Take steps now to help keep your family and home safe.

10/24/2025

There is going to be rain on Saturday but it's dry inside our VFD and a great event to raise money for the Bolivar Arena Association. Help them build the Bolivar Arena and bring the bulls back.
We started it and now handed the reins over to this new group to continue it.

10/22/2025

Galveston County has approved a burn ban for unincorporated areas due to dry conditions and increased wildfire risk.

This ban prohibits most outdoor burning, though specific rules and exceptions may apply, so residents should check with the Galveston County Fire Marshal's office for the latest information.

Details of the burn ban

Effective date: The ban was approved and took effect on October 21, 2025.
Reason: The ban is in response to dry conditions and a heightened risk of wildfires.

Jurisdiction: The ban applies to the unincorporated sections of Galveston County.

Enforcement: Violating the burn ban can result in a Class C misdemeanor and a fine of up to $500. If a fire causes property damage, more severe charges like reckless damage or arson may apply.

10/17/2025

Oct 25th is coming up soon and there will be a cookoff going on at our station. Contact the organizers to enter or judge. Come eat some pulled pork sandwiches and stay for the costume contest at 2 pm, followed by the awards and auction. There will some great items and some you just need to have, you know you do.
Meals start at 11:30am for $15

10/15/2025

🚒 Big News for Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department!

We’re excited to announce that Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department (PBVFD) has been selected as a recipient of a Texas A&M Forest Service grant for a new large brush truck through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.

Thanks to the hard work of George King and Malcom Comeaux. The truck has been picked out, about a year ago, and it will take approximately 1 year for delivery. We do have a portion to pay ourselves as they over only up to a certain amount.

Yesterday was an exciting day for the members of PBVFD!!!

10/11/2025

This was Fire Prevention Week and we always go to Crenshaw School and go over fire safety and prevention with the kids. This year we saw Pre-K up to grade 4. They got to have story time with Ranger Matt and of course Smokey Bear.
Both Port Bolivar and Crystal Beach Volunteer Fire Department were there. It is something we look forward to each year. We had a beautiful day for it as well.

09/30/2025

Event for a greatly missed Fire Fighter.

Address

1806 Broadway Ave
Port Bolivar, TX
77650

Telephone

+14096841984

Website

facebook.com

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History of Port Bolivar VFD

The Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1955 after the First United Methodist Church of Port Bolivar burned to the ground. Prior to that, community members fought fires with the help of neighbors and bucket brigades; a daunting task for sure. PBVFD held their first meeting at the Port Bolivar Recreation Hall in January of 1956. On April 30th, 1956, PBVFD applied for and received their Charter, making them officially known as Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department Inc. with Galveston County and the State of Texas. In order to fund the newly founded fire department, members paid monthly dues. At some point through the years, dues ceased and PBVFD has been sustained by donations and fundraisers as well as partial funding from ESD#2 and Galveston County.

The first annual Oyster Supper was held at the Recreation Hall on the 1700 block of Madison in 1970. Members of the Department, as well as community members, spent many a late evening shucking oysters at Laurence and Janet Kreuzer’s house for this much-loved event. In 2000, oysters were purchased, by the gallon from local oyster houses. In 2019, over 1,350 pounds of oysters were served at the 49th Annual Oyster Supper.

A Ladies Auxiliary was formed by the wives and women of the community around 1957. These ladies put their hearts and soul into raising money to make the PBVFD a reality. Dances, bake sales, bingos, donkey ball games and garage sales were very common events in Port Bolivar as this organization thrived.

The first elected Fire Chief was W.J. “Buddy” Ewing. Stories from original members include a trip to Galveston to purchase several old flatbed trucks. Tanks were built and installed on these trucks and they were put into service. One truck was kept at the corner of 18th and Madison in Port Bolivar, one truck was stationed at the North Jetty and the third was kept in Crystal Beach at the corner of Highway 87 and South Monkhouse Road. A 1941 International truck, which was stationed at the North Jetty, was maintained by Johnnie Stiers; he was a very dedicated member of the Department and had very strict rules concerning the operation of said truck; one MUST allow the firetruck to run at idle for two minutes before taking to the road in response to a call. An old 1956 Chevrolet school bus was converted to serve the community as a fire truck, it had no roof and a windshield only on the driver’s side of the cab.

A chalkboard was posted at each station where the fire trucks were housed, where the first responding member posted an address of the fire. Eventually, each truck and most firefighters had a CB radio, which made communications much better. Galveston County installed a civil defense air raid siren to alert citizens to hurricane warnings and or to call first responders into action. This siren is still utilized today in the event of a need for urgent firefighting help from peninsula residents. After August of 1990, all 4 of the peninsula fire departments communicated by VHF radios. That same year, Galveston County gave the departments the task of addressing all structures on the peninsula in preparation of the new enhanced 911 system which was fully implemented in 1991.

PBVFD purchased their first “real” fire truck in 1997, a Ford F Series and then in 2007, an International Maxx Force 9; both of which are still in service today. In 1975, community members collectively built the current station at 1806 Loop 108, otherwise known as 1806 Broadway. This building has been added on to twice throughout the years to accommodate our growth, once in 1980 and again in 1990.

Past PBVFD Chiefs include Buddy Ewing, Johnny Keruzer, C.W. Kahla, Charles Ray Bouse and our current Chief Malcolm M. Comeaux.

Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department also served the community with Emergency Medical Services, which began around the same time as the PBVFD’s Charter. Prior to the start of EMS services, if a need arose, you were transported to Galveston in a personal vehicle or often an ambulance from Galveston owned by J. Levy’s Ambulance Service came to assist. Our first official ambulance, which many people called a “hearse” was donated to the department by J. Levy and was said to “outrun anything on the peninsula”. In 1976, Houston Oil and Mineral, Inc. generously donated a new ambulance to the department. EMS services were provided by the same members who tirelessly served the community fighting fires. Eventually, emergency medical training was provided by Galveston County for peninsula volunteers. After Hurricane Ike struck in 2008, volunteers could not adequately maintain EMS services for the residents of the peninsula. A decision was made to pool equipment and monies to form an EMS service which they called Peninsula Emergency Medical Services Incorporated, also known as PEMSI.