Congratulations to our latest group of fire students at the Kilgore College Fire Academy Class #89, who graduated tonight at the Kilgore Adult Education Center. You have made the first step in becoming career firefighters. Good luck in your careers and be safe!

Early on the morning of Nov 11, 2013 the Elderville Lakeport VFD was dispatched to the report of a Motor Vehicle Collision where a vehicle had struck a gas line.

Initial responding crews found a pickup truck that had left the roadway, driven through a cyclone fence finally coming to rest on top of a natural gas meter.

Gregg County Sherriff Deputies had already evacuated residents in the adjacent area, and due to the lack of wind and cool air it was determined to broaden the evacuation radius to protect the residents while waiting for the gas company to respond to the incident. Gregg County Sherriff's Deputies, Elderville Lakeport VFD Crews, and Champion EMS personnel were used to facilitate the evacuation. An evacuation shelter was set up at the Gregg County Airport to house residents who were temporarily displaced for their safety. Over two dozen people were evacuated during the course of the incident.

On Saturday, 11/09/2013 members of the Rusk County Firefighters Association Traveled to Henderson, Texas for the annual Syrup Festival. The member departments that were present included:

• Crims Chapel VFD
• East Side VFD
• Elderville Lakeport VFD
• Henderson Fire Department
• Kilgore Fire Department
• Laneville VFD
• Mount Enterprise VFD
• New London VFD
• Overton VFD

There were plenty of smiling faces with the house prop (see right) that let the children play fireman while putting out "fires" using our "fire hose."  Also the RCFFA sold T-Shirts, Backpacks, and other items along with goody bags for the kids and  raffle tickets for a chicken coop, deer feeder, and game camera all with proceeds benefiting the fire departments.

We had a great time at the Syrup Festival and hope you will come see us and the rest of the fire departments next year.