Chartered in 1988, SOVFD has been serving the residents of our community night and day for over 30 years. As more people move into the Richland Chambers Lake area, the department's census of calls has increased steadily over the years, with a current average of over 100 calls per year, including structure fires, grass fires, medical incidents, vehicle accidents, public service calls and weather watches.

The fire station, located on Southern Oaks Drive just inside the Southern Oaks Subdivision, is named after fallen firefighter Barvon Hamilton who died following injuries received while fighting a grass fire in 1998.

SOVFD receives funding from Navarro and Freestone counties to run our department, but as generous as these funds are, they do not cover the year's operating budget. The annual Chili Supper/Cake Auction is our main fundraising event and we have been blessed with financial donations from the community that enable us to meet expenses.

We are currently working to replace our aging truck inventory. We have applied to the Texas Forest Service and also to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for grants that would allow us to obtain two new brush trucks.

We appreciate your support!