‘Huge start’ in effort to rebuild from April fire
After a devastating fire in April destroyed the Sulphur Bluff Volunteer Fire Department and Community Center, the future is looking brighter for the department after they raised over $98,000 during a benefit Saturday night.
“It went really well,” SBVFD chief Chris Bassham said. “We had a huge turnout. I think it was about 600 people.”
The turnout surprised Bassham, and he said people were looped around the Sulphur Bluff old gym where the fish fry and auction were being held. There were no leftovers from the 250 pounds of fish and 30 pounds of chicken cooked for the benefit.
“It was just non-stop,” Bassham said.
When the benefit was first planned, Bassham thought it would be a typical fundraiser with food in exchange for donations. However, businesses started to reach out to him to learn how to help.
“There were businesses from Sulphur Springs, Mount Vernon, Mount Pleasant, Emory, Wolfe City, Paris, all over,” Bassham said. “There were all kinds of people who reached out to help.”
Community members and organizations also pitched in. The Sulphur Bluff Methodist Church and Sulphur Bluff Baptist Church lended chairs and tables, and Sulphur Bluff ISD opened their gym when the weather took a rainy turn.
“We couldn’t have done it without them,” Bassham said.
Other county VFDs turned out as well and donated funds and some equipment lost in the fire, and departments from other nearby counties also pitched in donations for rebuilding.
“It was an outpouring of brotherhood from other departments,” Bassham said.
The first priority is to rebuild the department to house the two vehicles that escaped the fire. Bassham hopes to have the building done by winter so the vehicles can be sheltered from bad weather.
“We’re still operational,” Bassham said. “We’re not going to go away, not going to dissolve.”
The $98,598 raised makes a decent dent on the estimate $100-$150,000 needed to rebuild the department, and with the support received from the community and beyond, things are improving for the department.
“We’re just so thankful for everything,” Bassham said.
Donations addressed to Sulphur Bluff VFD can be sent to PO Box 35, Sulphur Bluff, TX 75481.