The land is set aside and the dirt work has started. Now they just need to raise the funds to put up the structure for the future home of the Angostura Rural Volunteer Fire Department. The Angostura Rural Volunteer Fire Department is raising money for a dedicated fire station to serve the hundreds of homes and businesses about 13 miles south of Hot Springs.
The department was established in 2022 after a home fire in 2020 highlighted the need for a local department which could offer quicker response times. Doug Rumpcaโs home burned to the ground after fireworks ignited the dry grass near his deck in 2020.
“We saw it hit, we’re going to try and get over there and maybe stomp it out or get some hoses out, but it was already gone all the way halfway down the hill and into the edge of the house. So it didn’t take long at all. The house was up in flames. We grabbed the dog and got out of the house,โ said Doug Rumpca, Angostura.
“Several of us got together after Doug’s house burned down, and we decided we’ve got to get something out here. You know, departments won’t just loan you a brush truck to keep on hand. So we started the process through the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the fire district, county commission, and we finally got approved,โ said Jerry Roe, Fire Chief, Angostura Rural Volunteer Fire Department. The Angostura fire department has about 35 volunteers and five trucks. The trucks are parked at private homes and three are housed in borrowed shop space.
