Bullard Fire District
Call or visit us.
Meetings:
First & Third Tuesdays at 7 pm
Meetings Held At:
At Bullard Station
215 South Houston
Bullard Texas, 75757
About the Bullard Volunteer Fire Department
The Bullard Volunteer Fire Department was chartered in 1955 and has been serving the City of Bullard and its surrounding communities in Smith and Cherokee Counties ever since. From our two fire stations (Station 56 in Bullard and Station 57 in unincorporated Smith County near Emerald Bay), we provide Fire (structure and wildland), Emergency Medical, and Rescue Services for a protection area that is approximately 92 square miles and has a population of nearly 11,000 people. Over the last 70 years, our call volume has increased with each passing year as more people have moved to our area. In 2024 we responded to over 1100 calls for service.
The department has 20 volunteer members and is governed by a 5-member board. We have four officer positions that handle daily operations and emergency response. Fire Chief – Terry DeGuentz. Assistant Fire Chief – Greg Lugo. Captain & Training Officer – James DeSimone and Lieutenant Charlie (CJ) Grogan.
The volunteer firefighters commit to a rigorous path that requires them to achieve Texas certification as a basic structure firefighter. Beyond the basics, we develop them through the completion of wildland firefighting, emergency medical, apparatus operator, fire instructor, and fire officer certification. The culture at Bullard has enabled us to achieve a higher level of success in recruitment and retention, largely due to the higher expectations for certification and competency. For many of our younger volunteers, we have seen them successfully attain career positions in the fire service. They feel their success is largely due to the mentoring and competencies they developed as a volunteer. Most choose to continue serving as volunteers in Bullard; however, attrition occurs.
District Chief:
Terry M. DeGuentz – Over the past 40 years, he has held public and private sector roles, including firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, company officer, and chief officer for career fire districts in Missouri, as well as Fortune 500 companies.
In 2012, after 26 years of public service, having attained his associate’s degree in Paramedic Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Chief DeGuentz transitioned to the private sector. Chief DeGuentz moved to Texas in 2020 and is now a partner in a risk management and fire protection engineering firm, as well as an instructor with Texas A&M’s Texas Engineering Extension – Emergency Services Training Institute.
Chief DeGuentz brings a passion for mentoring and education that will continue to build the competency of the Bullard Volunteer Fire Department’s members. “It was a decision that was easy to make to join the Bullard Volunteer Fire Department. I saw energetic members who were actively engaged to provide the best quality of service to the community. The members don’t settle for the minimum and strive for competency. This culture is one that has been developed over several decades, and I’m happy to be a part of this department’s continued growth and success.”
Yours in Service,
Terry M. DeGuentz,
Bullard Volunteer Fire Chief
Stations:
Bullard Station 1
Bullard Fire Station 1 Call: (903) 894-7143 Address 215 S Houston St Bullard 75757 Staffed Hours: M-F 8am – 5pm Station Information Staffed: M-F 8am – 5pm by 2 Firefighters
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Smith County Emergency Services District 2
PO BOX 780
WHITEHOUSE, TX. 75791-0780