Oakalla VFD holding annual fajita dinner, auction on Saturday

By LYNETTE SOWELL 
Cove Leader-Press 

The Oakalla Volunteer Fire Department is holding its annual fajita dinner and auction on Saturday from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., with the live auction starting at 7:00.
For $15 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under, diners can have an all-you-can-eat fajita meal. 
Auction items usually include handcrafted goods, metal art, Western décor, household items, outdoor items, and more donated by local businesses and community members. Saturday night will also include gun raffles.
Funds raised from the meal, auction, and raffles will go to the fire department, which also receives some of its funding from Burnet County. 
The funds raised on Saturday will come at a vital time for the department, whose service area doubled to 198 square miles in March 2019. 
“With that increase of coverage area our calls will more than double, most likely. Thankfully we have also seen our membership increase,” said Christian Roehrigh, secretary for the OVFD. “Each member must be outfitted with PPE (personal protective gear). The complete gear for each fire fighter costs near $3000. All our new members have certifications in CPR/AED/first aid. That is training that we are paying for also. We have four new-to-us fire trucks we have outfitted this year to aid us in our increased call volume. We have 3 EMT’s in our membership also.” 
The department has also purchased four acres south of Harold’s used parts yard, which will be the future site of the new Oakalla/Briggs Fire Station #2. 
Oakalla VFD, based in Burnet County, also gives assistance to area fire departments when needed.
To get to Oakalla, tame F.M. 2657 south for approximately 12 miles, then take a right on F.M. 963. The fire station will be on the left.    
For more information, call (254) 462-3352.