From Humble Beginnings, Neighbors helping Neighbors

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On October 15, 1961, residents of North Zulch gathered to form their volunteer fire department.  Officers were immediately elected: Joe Marks, Chairman; A.C. Bethke, Secretary-Treasurer; Henry Wilson, Donations Chairman; Carl H. Boenigk, Publicity; George Dalton Rush, Fundraising Chairman. Their first goal was clear: acquire a fire truck. The Normangee Fire Department planned to sell its 1946 Ford truck, and North Zulch set its sights on purchasing it for $1,000.  

On November 4, 1961, the Normangee VFD brought the 1946 truck to North Zulch for a demonstration. Residents lined the road, a quarter mile south of town, on FM 39 to see the equipment in action. The demonstration was more than technical—it was symbolic. The sight of water spraying from hoses reassured families that fire could be fought effectively with the right tools. 

The truck was equipped with a reconditioned motor, hoses, ladders, and a 650-gallon water tank. Normangee VFD also donated a town alarm siren, and later, the telephone company agreed to install fire phones in local businesses to ensure someone would always be available to answer and sound the town alarm. The siren was sounded daily at noon, except Sundays, to test readiness and reassure the community.  

By January 1962, the department had secured enough funds to purchase the truck and to buy Dud Keefer’s dirt-floor garage for $600, thereby providing the community with its first fire station. The department answered its first alarm on March 29, 1962. By April 1962, a dedicated fire telephone, phone number EX9-2121, had been installed at three businesses, with backup at the home of telephone operator Mrs. Myrtle Lang. 

Between 1966 and 1971, the VFD was primarily dormant, confronted with typical midlife challenges: aging equipment, parts shortages, volunteer attrition, and funding pressures.  

In September 1972, the community met and reorganized the department. While the 1946 truck was still barely operable, the reorganized department acquired its first factory-new fire truck—a 1972 Dodge one-ton — thanks to Jack Crocker’s connections at Stanley Motors. Volunteers Crocker, Leonard Folsom, and Parmer Donaho equipped the truck with lights, a CB radio, and a water tank. Though the pump engine required a rope start, the truck represented a significant leap forward in firefighting capability. 

With new leadership, a reorganized department, and a dependable 1972 Dodge at their side, the North Zulch volunteers entered the 1970s with a sense of momentum they had not felt in years. What followed was a remarkable decade—one defined not just by better equipment, but by a newfound confidence in what the department could build, protect, and inspire. 

As North Zulch grew, so did the fire department’s role within the community. Fundraisers became cultural events, bold decisions reshaped the department’s future, and ordinary citizens stepped forward to shoulder extraordinary responsibility.

The 1970s also marked a golden era of fundraising through concerts: April 3, 1975 – country music star Ernest Tubb performed in the new North Zulch school gym. Tickets cost $5 per family. The concert was a major success, drawing attendees from across the region. Tubb said he’d stay until the last autograph was signed—and he meant it. His bus pulled out of the school parking lot at 2:00 am.  March 30, 1976 – Roy Acuff and the Smoky Mountain Boys performed in a benefit concert, paired with a barbecue dinner. Family tickets were $8, or $3.50 per adult and $1.50 for children.  Proceeds went toward equipment purchases and building payments. These events tied North Zulch to the broader world of country music while reinforcing the fire department as a cultural hub.  

The tradition of celebrity and community shows continued. On May 5, 1979, the North Zulch Fire Department hosted a country music show that featured Donna Douglas (well known for her role as Elly May in The Beverly Hillbillies), Billy Western, and Tim Herring. Advance tickets were available at North Zulch High School and Tip Top Records. Tickets were priced at $2 and $4 at the door—demonstrating the department’s ongoing reliance on community entertainment to fund its operations.

March 20, 1975, stands as the most defining moment in the North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department’s history. On this date, twenty men made a decision that would forever exemplify the courage, commitment, risk, and community spirit that built rural Texas. Those men—W.O. Kimmey, Leonard Folsom, A.C. Bethke, Lloyd Carter, Bill Horton, Joe Marks, Clifton Marks, Jim Gilhaus, Medford Stroud, Carl Hollis, Bob Earnest, F.B. “Boots” King, W.E. Probst, Parmer Donaho, James E. May, Joe Wayne Keefer, Rev. Paul Eaton, J.C. Crocker, Ronnie Moffatt, and Melvin Wells—signed their names to a five year $8,000 bank loan, personally guaranteeing repayment without any property collateral—only their names, their word, and their unwavering commitment to their neighbors. The debt was not only repaid, but because of outstanding community support, it was retired two years early, with payments in June 1976 of $1,342.24, in June 1977 of $4,400.85, and on April 28, 1978, of $2,256.91. 

This extraordinary act of faith and community service represents more than a financial transaction; it embodies the Texas tradition of neighbors helping neighbors, where individual sacrifice serves the collective good. The twenty men who signed that guarantee understood they were risking their personal financial security for the benefit of their entire community. These names represent more than individuals; they represent families, businesses, and community leaders who understood that building a fire station meant building a safer future for everyone in North Zulch. The community’s commitment to financial support became a significant cornerstone of the fire department’s legacy.

Parmer Donaho, with a background in construction, was selected to get bids for the new station.  Ultimately, local builder J. R. Loy, who also built the 1975 NZISD gym, offered the best price and was awarded the contract to demolish the old, dirt-floor tin garage and construct a new fire station.  

On March 1, 1976, with the assistance of George Sirmon, the NZVFD received its official Texas charter as a registered nonprofit corporation. Soon after the IRS recognized the department as a 501(c)3 organization, a designation that was revoked in 2010 due to a lack of administrative action when the IRS began requiring Form 990-N postcard filing. The 501(c)3 designation was reinstated in 2018. 

On November 13, 1976, the fire department held a musical to benefit the Madison County Hospital.  The turnout was good, and $542.51 was raised and donated toward the $850,000 goal.  Famed John Henry Faulk was one of many who provided entertainment.  A Texas-born humorist, storyteller, writer, and radio/television personality, Faulk became nationally known both for his folksy wit and for his role in a landmark legal case during the McCarthy era. In addition to his radio and writing career, Faulk made regular appearances on the popular television series Hee Haw, where his warm humor and storytelling about North Zulch reached a wide audience.   

In June 1977, new officers were announced:  Fire Chief Jack Crocker, Treasurer Alton Bethke, and Secretary Bill Horton were reelected.  Elected to new positions were Fire Marshall Joe Wayne Keefer, Assistant Chief Roger Swinner, and reporter Parmer Donaho.  1977 fundraising initiatives included hosting a community talent show, organizing a 4-H hog show where firemen secured buyers to ensure every child’s animal was purchased, and producing the “Old Opry,” a musical program featuring bluegrass, gospel, and country-and-western music. Domino and 42 tournaments also contributed to the year’s fundraising success.

By the late 1970s, the North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department had settled into a steady rhythm of service, guided by dedicated officers and supported by a community that had grown alongside it. The names elected in 1977—many of whom had shaped the department’s earliest struggles and greatest triumphs—continued to anchor its identity as North Zulch moved into the decades ahead.

During this same time, North Zulch’s lack of a reliable public water system hindered firefighting and broader community growth. Residents often had to tap into a neighbor’s well or drill expensive private wells, which weren’t feasible on the small townsite lots. This limited development made firefighting more difficult. The fire department was determined to solve this issue.  In 1972, Founding member Parmer Donaho reached out to an acquaintance for help: Senator Bill “Bull” Moore.  With this help, the town eventually secured a grant to establish a community water and sewer system.  H.B. 1606, Regular Session, authored by State Legislator Latham Boone III, creating the North Zulch Municipal Utility District, was signed by Governor Dolph Briscoe on April 25, 1973.

NZMUD comprised 894 acres. The Texas Water Rights Commission appointed the first five Directors as recommended by the community, as follows: John T. Andrus, Lloyd E. Carter, Rev. Paul Eaton, A.A. Folsom & James B. Gilhaus. NZMUD easements were obtained from landowners by the NZVFD firemen in a “spider web” of water lines spreading from the town. Although debates arose over voting rights for rural residents living outside the boundaries, the project succeeded in providing affordable water access and a sewer system to the area. This not only improved fire protection but also encouraged new families to settle in North Zulch. 

Maintaining energy, funding, and volunteer commitment over the years proved to be difficult. Events sometimes became overwhelming—musicals ran way past midnight, and some fundraisers risked exhausting community support. To resolve the issue, the department diversified fundraising with fish fries, barbecues, fishing tournaments, and concerts, each drawing new supporters. Volunteers of all ages, including women and schoolchildren, were welcomed into the effort. When the annual fish fry was held, teenagers eagerly delivered free plates to the elderly in the community. The community’s involvement spread the workload and built intergenerational pride in the department’s mission. 

What began as a group of neighbors with no money and no equipment evolved into a lasting institution because each challenge was met with creativity, resilience, and cooperation. They turned an old dirt floor and a tin building into a firehouse, skepticism into support, and a lack of funds into concerts that brought Nashville stars to a small Texas town. Mr Donaho later reflected on how every struggle and every hard-won solution had shaped the North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department into more than a fire crew—it had become the community’s heartbeat, proof that even the toughest challenges can be overcome when neighbors stand together.

As the 1980s began, the North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department stood at the intersection of service, tradition, and community identity. Its volunteers were few, its resources limited, and its needs ever-growing. Yet NZVFD’s influence within the community far exceeded its size. The fire station and the Senior Citizens Center became the two great civic pillars of North Zulch—anchors of daily life, hubs of public activity, and symbols of the town’s cooperative spirit. 

In September 1980, the firehouse was not simply a place where fires were fought—it was where decisions were made. The North Zulch Municipal Utility District held its public bond hearing inside the fire station, inviting citizens to learn about a proposed $220,000 sewer system project. Newspapers recorded that the meeting was well attended, underscoring how deeply the community relied on the firehouse as its town hall. This civic usage was commonplace. The fire station regularly served as a polling location, a meeting place for public boards, a venue for reunions, a location for Texas Parks & Wildlife to issue hunting/fishing licenses, and the site for community announcements. In a rural town with no formal city government, the North Zulch fire station served as the closest thing the community had to a municipal center. 

The early 1980s were marked by ambitious community fundraisers that blended rural tradition with creative adaptation. One event in July 1980 included a trail ride, barbecue, and dance, held at the Roy Baker place and another at the Harris Ranch in Normangee. Admission fees, meal sales, and dance tickets paid for essential equipment and kept the station lights on. At the same time, the North Zulch Senior Citizens Center emerged as one of the most bustling facilities in town. Their center was a hub of conversation, recreation, and local culture.  

Politicians stopped there specifically to speak with the “domino crowd,” knowing their influence extended throughout Madison County. A January 1983 news article reported that senior citizens gathered daily to play dominoes and discuss politics—so influential, in fact, that a national newspaper (The Democrat and Chronicle - Rochester, New York, and Houston Post) sent reporters to capture their opinions on the February 1983, 6th Congressional District Special Election. Both Phil Gramm and opponent John Henry Faulk campaigned at the Senior Citizens Center. Ultimately, Gramm was reelected.  

By 1983, the North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department was clearly a community institution. Telephone directories listed the fire department under Chief J.C. Crocker with the long-standing emergency number 399-2121. Fundraisers continued with cake auctions, trail rides, and community socials, often hosted in school cafeterias or the Senior Center. By mid-decade, new chiefs—including J. C. Crocker (1983), Robert Crofoote (1985), and later Steve Harris (1987)—took the helm. Each faced the same challenge: providing emergency protection on a shoestring budget, and fundraisers grew accordingly.  

Two of the most vivid articles from the mid-1980s chronicle large barbecue events that became synonymous with NZVFD fundraising. Serving lines opened at 11 a.m., but brisket had been cooking since midnight, overseen by volunteer cooks such as Bethlehem Lutheran’s renowned pitmaster J.P. Watson. Up to 500 pounds of brisket were prepared at a time. Meals were offered at no charge—donations only—reflecting a culture of giving rather than pricing. Monthly cake auctions raised as much as $500, with proceeds used toward the down payment on a much-needed new pumper truck. In these same articles, President Clifton Marks offered quotes that still capture the heart of the era: “We don’t charge admission. But once the folks are there, we hit them up for a donation. That makes it easier on us poor folks.” His explanation underscored the rural reality: the community was not wealthy, but it was generous—and deeply committed to sustaining its fire department. 

The North Zulch Senior Citizens Center (opened in the spring of 1979, made possible through Programs and Services for Older Adults of the Brazos Valley Community Action Agency) continued to appear frequently in newspaper announcements. The center hosted domino tournaments, pancake breakfasts, and events for seniors across the area. It was a place where meals were served, programs were administered, and laughter echoed daily. It was also a gathering point for news—political figures, reporters, and community members alike visited to hear what the locals thought. In October 1989, the fire department introduced a popular new idea: a fishing tournament at Lake Madison. The event followed state game regulations and drew anglers across the Brazos Valley, marking the beginning of what would become one of the department’s signature fundraising traditions in the 1990s. 

In October 1990, a gospel quartet performed at the North Zulch High School cafetorium to raise funds for the fire department. Musical events had long been a familiar part of North Zulch history, and the NZVFD continued that tradition by hosting performances that doubled as fundraisers. In April 1991, NZVFD held its North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department Fishing Festival. More than 30 entrants participated in adult and youth divisions with categories for bass, catfish, and crappie. The event raised over $1,200 in entry fees, featured extensive sponsor participation, and welcomed both boat anglers and bank fishers. The Tournament Director praised the turnout and noted that the department planned to expand the festival the following year. The event was so successful that even tiebreakers were settled by coin toss—small-town fairness at its purest. 

Perhaps the most crucial newspaper article from this era appeared in May 1991, laying out the situation with sobering clarity. The department needed $15,000 annually to operate. Insurance costs alone exceeded $4,300. Without adequate donations, emergency response times could increase by 15–30 minutes. Donations were to be sent to Mrs. Mary Moore. The article posed a direct question to the community: “What happens if North Zulch loses its fire department?” The message was simple: the volunteers were committed—but without financial support, they could not continue to protect the community. 

Even as it raised money, NZVFD remained ready to respond. A July 1992 article describes a pasture fire along Texas 21 that triggered a three-car accident. Captain Joe Peterson reported that the fire burned 5 acres, that thick smoke caused near-zero visibility across the highway, and that Madisonville and North Zulch firefighters extinguished the blaze in about 45 minutes. There were no injuries—a testament to quick response and well-coordinated volunteer action. 

Throughout the 1990s, aside from the school, the firehouse remained one of the most utilized buildings in the community. A 1991 article lists it as the venue for homecoming activities, reunions, and meetings of the NZ Lioness Club. By 1999, it hosted the organizational meeting of the North Zulch Community Action Committee, demonstrating that civic groups continued to rely on the fire station for public gatherings.  

From 1980 to 1999, aside from the school, the North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department stood at the center of nearly everything that mattered in town. It hosted fundraisers big and small, fought fires under challenging rural conditions, and served as a meeting place for voters, seniors, families, committees, and elected leaders. The story of NZVFD in these decades is a story of resilience in the face of rising costs, creativity in fundraising, commitment from leaders like J.C. Crocker, Robert Crofoote, Steve Harris, Clifton Marks, Joe Peterson, and countless volunteers, and unity within the North Zulch community.  

Above all, it is a story of a town that understood this truth: a volunteer fire department survives only when a community believes in it enough to keep it alive. North Zulch did precisely that. 

As the North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department (NZVFD) moved into the twenty-first century, its mission expanded in visible, measurable ways. The department continued to fight grass and structure fires. Still, it also grew into an increasingly technical response organization—supporting vehicle extrications, landing zones, first-responder medical incidents, and complex mutual-aid operations across Madison County and beyond. The record of incidents, upgrades, fundraising, and facility improvements from 2002 forward shows a department steadily modernizing while remaining rooted in the same principle that built it: neighbors protecting neighbors. 

On Sunday night, January 14, 2002, a Madison County home on Springfield Road was destroyed in a fire. NZVFD Chief Joe Peterson reported that the one-story brick home, owned by C. G. Klentz, caught fire shortly after 7:30 p.m. Peterson stated he did not know the cause. The fire was brought under control nearly two hours later, and no one was injured. Madisonville and Precinct 2 Brazos County volunteer firefighters assisted North Zulch at the scene, reflecting the mutual-aid relationships that had become essential to rural emergency response. 

Dry conditions soon became a recurring theme. By March 2002, Madison County reinstated a burn ban due to dangerous dryness and strong winds. County officials warned that conditions were so dry that even a slight spark—from burning brush or trash—could escape control and threaten residents and property. Violations were described as a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. The order did not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety, provided they are authorized for certain regulated operations and firefighting training. 

Those warnings were reinforced by fires that erupted the week the ban returned. Late Wednesday, March 13, 2002, a grass fire on Mosley Road—north on Highway 75 near Madisonville—spread to a mobile home that was completely involved when Madisonville Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) arrived. The MVFD Assistant Chief described how the fire was spreading quickly due to the dry conditions and called NZVFD for mutual aid because of the speed and acreage involved, as well as the risk to two other mobile homes nearby. Firefighters were able to save the threatened homes, though one mobile home was destroyed and about 30 acres burned; one nearby mobile home suffered melting on one side before the fire was fully controlled. Stephen stated the fire began when a resident’s lawnmower caught fire while mowing, igniting grass that moved rapidly to the mobile home and then the barn under windy, dry conditions.  

In addition to fires, early 2002 highlighted the department’s role in rescue and roadway emergencies. On Monday, March 11, 2002, a two-vehicle crash occurred at 1:15 p.m. on US 190 (SH 21) at Hibbetts Curve, east of North Zulch. Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Jeff Pirtle reported that a 1998 Oldsmobile van headed west toward Austin was struck when a 1996 Hyundai traveling east toward Center lost control on wet pavement from earlier drizzle, slid sideways into the westbound lane, and entered the van’s path. The van’s front struck the right passenger side of the Hyundai. The Hyundai came to rest straddling the center stripe facing west, while the van came to rest in the west bar ditch facing east. 

The crash injured five people, including a family of four and the driver of the other vehicle. One occupant suffered a punctured lung and required extrication using hydraulic rescue tools, while another sustained a broken hip. One child was initially in a coma but later improved; the other suffered cuts and bruises. The remaining driver sustained minor injuries. All occupants were wearing seat belts, and no alcohol or narcotics were involved. A helicopter ambulance was requested but grounded due to weather, and all patients were transported by ground ambulance to a regional hospital. The incident required a multi-agency response and resulted in traffic being diverted for approximately 1.5 hours.  

By 2005, the department’s modernization included significant upgrades to its apparatus. On April 13, 2005, reporting noted that NZVFD Chief Joe Peterson announced the department’s acquisition of a new fire truck purchased partly through a grant from the Texas Forest Service. The Texas Forest Service provided 90 percent of the funding, while NZVFD raised the remaining 10 percent. The truck was a new 2004 Ford F-750, built by Klein in Jacksonville, equipped with a 2,100-gallon tank and a fully remote-controlled water cannon mounted behind the cab, operated by a joystick inside the cab. The department received the truck on March 21 and had already put it to use weekly, including responding to a barn fire and a lightning-strike fire at an oil tank. 

Chief Peterson publicly thanked the community and the Texas Forest Service, noting the truck cost $100,000 and could not have been purchased without local fundraiser support. Officers listed at that time included Chief Joe Peterson; Captain Edward Schuenemann; Lieutenant Rose May; Secretary Tammy Seay; and Chaplain David Peterson. The department also announced its annual Mother’s Day BBQ dinner scheduled for May 7, along with raffle ticket sales for a 7,500-watt electric-start generator to be awarded at the dinner. Community members were invited to stop by the station on May 7 to see the new truck, enjoy a meal, and purchase raffle tickets. 

Fundraising remained essential and continued to evolve. On February 22, 2006, an announcement noted that NZVFD would hold a “Casino Night” fundraiser at Cafe 21 on Friday, February 24. A free buffet was planned. Chips were priced at $10 for $100 worth or $20 for $250 worth, and at the end of the night, they could be used to purchase donated auction items. A street dance was also noted for March 16. 

Department membership was also publicly documented. On March 8, 2006, a photo caption listed NZVFD members pictured with their newest fire truck. The names included Zack Brown, Wayne Brown, Chelsea Brown, Tammy Seay, and Rose May in the front row; and David Peterson, Pete Richards, Glynn Shiflet, Dianna Clapp, Sharon Schuenemann, and Edward Schuenemann. Not pictured was Zach Schramm. 

On April 26, 2006, NZVFD announced it would host its annual Mother’s Day BBQ on Saturday, May 13. Serving was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and continue until all food was gone. The BBQ plate was described as brisket, sausage, potato salad, cole slaw, pinto beans, dessert, and tea. The Memory Makers band was scheduled to entertain, and a Bounce-A-Lot would be available for children. The department also planned a cake sale and sold raffle tickets for an F1 heifer calf donated by Knights Attorneys at Law. Donations were welcomed, and all proceeds were designated for needed equipment and operating expenses. Contact numbers were provided for tickets and information. 

By spring 2007, the department was planning for the next step in infrastructure. On April 25, 2007, NZVFD announced grand plans for a new fire station to be built on Fifth Street at Trinity, across from the current station. Sharon Schuenemann stated that the department had about 20 volunteer firefighters, that the land was secured, and that clearing had begun. A special fundraiser was planned for Saturday, May 12, with activities beginning at 11 a.m. at the North Zulch school cafeteria. Raffle items were listed, including a $700 gas grill, a $500 savings bond, a $100 gift certificate, a guitar, a Justin belt buckle, a knife, a metal art, a hedger, a 15-gallon Liveoak tree, and a cordless drill. Entertainment was provided by Texas Bareback Karaoke, and Madisonville State Bank donated $500 specifically for barbecue meat. 

The proposed station plans called for a main building measuring 125 feet by 60 feet, with three truck bays, a hazardous materials washdown area, showers, restrooms, a kitchen, and office space. The estimated cost was between $300,000 and $500,000. This proposed new station never came to fruition. 

In February 2008, the department and its mutual-aid partners received public written praise: residents of Shepherd Creek Estates Subdivision issued a “Very Sincere Thank You” to the North Zulch Fire Department for a professional job during a recent grass fire, stating it would have been devastating without quick response. 

In 2017, the NZVFD Auxiliary was officially chartered as a nonprofit Texas corporation and recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization. Its sole mission was to serve as the fire department's fundraising arm. Through meticulous planning, creative ideas, effective marketing, and consistent event execution, by Feb. 2025, this small group of founding women—daughters and wives of firefighters, including children and grandchildren of founding NZVFD members—had raised over $268,000 in eight years. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of the community and the surrounding areas. All funds raised were transferred to the fire department. 

The department’s first major purchase using Auxiliary-raised funds was a new 2023 Ford F-350 truck. Echoing the founders' hands-on resourcefulness in the early 1970s, firefighters took on sole responsibility for outfitting the truck with a skid unit, pump, and water tank, along with emergency lighting and sirens. The personal time sacrificed saved thousands of dollars. Community excitement grew as the first new grass truck in fifty years rolled into service. 

All other proceeds from the Auxiliary were directed by the fire department to the building fund, culminating in early 2025 with the construction of a new 90-foot-by-60-foot fire station on land donated in 2005 and 2007 by Bill R. Leonard and his wife, Lillie D. Leonard, both pillars of the community. After retiring from Coca-Cola, Bill Leonard became the owner of the local grocery store and later served his community as both Justice of the Peace and Fire Chief. Lillie’s brother, Clifton McWhorter, and his wife, Carolyn, also donated a lot in 2007. Today, the old town siren—donated by the Normangee Volunteer Fire Department in 1961—still stands, and future plans include returning it to service. 

Operational demand continued to climb. In the two years ending July 2022, the small department responded to 264 calls; the following month, August 2022, the department faced its largest grass fire in history. The blaze burned for two days near Bundic Road and Blagrave Road, consuming several hundred acres. More than 15 agencies responded, with mutual aid support that included two aircraft from the Texas A&M Forest Service. 

By 2025, the department described the year as its busiest yet, with 149 total calls for service. One contributor to increased call volume was dispatching state-certified first responders to selected medical calls within the department’s territory, resulting in 23 first-responder incidents. The department recorded 10 landing zone standbys requested by EMS/AirMed 12; many were at the same scenes as first responder dispatches, but were counted separately as their own calls for service. 

The 2025 fire total was 54, including 36 grass fires—eight of which were mutual aid responses outside the department’s territory. The department reported 11 structure fire responses, five of which were mutual aid responses outside the territory. The remaining fire-related calls were brush piles or unfounded/smoke in the area. NZVFD also responded to 44 motor vehicle accidents in 2025, including two iPhone collision detections later determined to be accidental activations. Two motor vehicle accidents required rescue tools for entrapment, and two other vehicles were either overturned or on their side. The department cleared fallen trees from the road on three occasions and performed eight lift assists in concert with EMS. 

In the same period, the department emphasized that community generosity—through donations and participation in fundraisers—combined with equipment donations from other departments and Texas state funding and equipment grants enabled major improvements to both the station and the fleet.  

In the two years ending Dec. 2025 the department added a new 4,000-gallon water tanker; a new rescue/brush truck; a government surplus LMTV equipped as a brush truck/high water truck; a surplus Type 1 Engine Company now used as the primary structure fire truck and rescue engine; and a surplus Type 3 Engine company (heavy brush truck) intended for brush and potentially structure fires.

On December 6, 2025, the Texas A&M Forest Service inspected the newly arrived Tender 2, and attested that it met grant specifications. This blessing was funded yet again by the Texas Legislature and the grant program started with House Bill 2604 two decades earlier. The department thanked the Texas A&M Forest Service for its support of volunteer departments. Tender 2 was officially placed in service with the department, adding 4,000 gallons of water to NZVFD’s capabilities. The department invited the community to come out that evening—Saturday, December 6—to the Madisonville Christmas Parade at 6:00 p.m. to see Tender 2 and Engine 2 in the procession. 

Two vehicles were retired in recent years, including a 20-plus-year-old brush truck and a previously donated structural firefighting truck acquired from Dayton VFD. The department reported it was in the process of re-skinning the original 1970s-era station and preparing to begin interior renovations to better serve as the community center it has always been. The department also reported it now had three paramedics among its members, up from one, and continued collaborating with the Madison County First Responder Organization to provide medical first response to selected medical calls. The department added six new members in the prior twelve months, continued actively recruiting motivated individuals for firefighting, medical, technical, and support roles, and reported training “like never before” while up-fitting, re-equipping, renovating, improving, and growing. 

Looking ahead, the department plans a moment of public remembrance and gratitude. On February 7, 2026, during the 9th Annual Chili Cook-off, North Zulch VFD will honor the twenty men who signed the 1975 bank loan. That act of faith, courage, personal risk, and sacrifice became a defining moment in the department’s and the community’s story—a legacy that continues to inspire. 

Taken together, these documented incidents and milestones—from structure fires and burn bans to vehicle extrications; from grant-funded apparatus and community-raised matches to new stations built on donated land; from a chartered Auxiliary raising thousands of dollars to a modern fleet that includes tankers, brush units, rescue capability, and large-scale wildfire mutual aid—show a department shaped by service and sustained by community. The calls have multiplied, the tools have advanced, and the skills required have expanded, but the heart of the North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department remains the same: answering the call, every time. 

From its 1961 beginnings, when a handful of neighbors united to confront the constant threat of fire, the story of the North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department has unfolded as a testament to rural grit, community vision, and the belief that ordinary people and a small community can build extraordinary things. 

As of Jan 2026, We currently have over 20 active members and 9 Auxiliary members who volunteer their time and talents to the community of North Zulch, Texas

(This  history of the department was compiled by Wyona Donaho Ballard, one of the founding members of the NZVFD Auxiliary, as well as daughter to the late Chief Parmer Donaho. For the entire un-redacted 6-part history compilation, check out the North Zulch VFD facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NZVFD)