District 1 Fire & Rescue is a combination fire department that serves the greater La Vernia area, including Kicaster and Sutherland Springs, Texas. First due area covers 126 square miles of North Wilson County and the City of La Vernia. The Department utilizes a staff of about 21 Full and Part Time Firefighters to staff Station 1 (La Vernia Station) with 4 professional firefighters 24/7 and Station 2 (FM 775 and FM 3432) with 3 professional firefighters 24/7. The department also maintains about 10 highly trained volunteers who stand shifts along side our paid staff when available.
The La Vernia VFD was established in 1918 and served until 2017. In 2008 the voters established Wilson County Emergency Services District #1 to provided Fire and Rescue services for the La Vernia area. The District operates on an ad-valorem property tax. The Emergency Service District contracted their fire service through the La Vernia VFD until 2017 when both entities combined to form District 1 Fire & Rescue as we know it today. Many of the volunteers from the La Vernia VFD continue to serve the district to this day.
In 2017, Wilson County Emergency Services District #1 voters approved the annexation of the Kicaster and Sutherland Springs areas into the existing La Vernia area.
