Etoile Volunteer Fire Department

10/30/2026

5th Thursday Appreciation Dinner.

Every month that there is a fifth Thursday in it, the EVFD has an appreciation dinner for its volunteers.

That was last night 😍

It was a good time for all!!!

They also celebrated Denise Randell birthday, so there was cake too ❤️

10/28/2026

10/27/2026

Good afternoon, my good friends and neighbors of Etoile. ❤️

Well, it looks like the burn ban has been reinstated for the next 90 days, which takes us through the end of January.

I know those burn piles are growing, and I know everybody would love to get out there and get them taken care of. We understand that. But folks, it is just too dangerous right now.

The EVFD has been responding to several grass fires a week, many caused by a burn that got away from the people who started them.

Y’all, please hear me when I say this: just because you think you have a fire under control doesn’t mean it will stay that way. Dry conditions can turn a little burn into a very big problem in a matter of minutes.

Please don’t put your property, or your neighbors’ homes, at risk just to get a burn pile taken care of.

Nacogdoches County is under a burn ban. Please do not burn.

We love this community, and we want everyone and everything in it to stay safe. Let’s do our part to help make that happen. ❤️

— Your friends at the EVFD

10/27/2026

Around 3:30 PM on Monday, October 26, Etoile Volunteer Fire Department was responding to a mutual aid grass fire in the Woden area when another alert came in for a fire off County Road 559 in the Etoile area.

Fortunately, we had enough personnel responding to cover both incidents.

Tanker 1, with a crew of two, made a U-turn on FM 226 and headed toward County Road 559. Brush 1, also with a crew of two, was released from the Woden incident and redirected to the new fire. Brush 2 remained on scene to assist with the original incident off County Road 420.

Arriving units at County Road 559 found a truck and tires burning, along with several grass fires involving large stands of pampas grass.

The Tanker 1 crew focused on controlling the spreading flames and protecting nearby property before turning their attention to the burning truck. The Brush 1 crew positioned themselves to assist with containing the fire and preventing further spread.

Additional EVFD personnel arrived in their personal vehicles to help support the incident. One firefighter even left work to respond and lend a hand.

Etoile Volunteer Fire Department responded with Tanker 1, Brush 1, and eight firefighters.

This was another great example of teamwork, coordination, and incident management by the entire department. With two incidents happening at the same time, our firefighters adapted quickly, shifted resources where they were needed, and worked together to protect our community.

We are especially proud of the dedication shown by our volunteers. Whether responding in an apparatus, arriving in a personal vehicle, or leaving work to answer the call, each person played an important role

10/26/2026

Around 11:20 AM on Monday, October 26, Etoile Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to assist with a mutual aid grass fire off County Road 420.

The fire started when an unattended burn pile at a residence spread into the surrounding grass and eventually into a wooded area.

Etoile Volunteer Fire Department responded alongside Melrose VFD and Kingtown VFD.

Arriving units found the original burn pile still burning, along with several other items in the yard that had caught fire. The fire had spread approximately 25 to 50 yards into the surrounding woods.

Firefighters worked together to bring the flanks and leading edges of the fire under control, preventing it from spreading farther into the woods. Once the perimeter was secured, crews concentrated on extinguishing the remaining hot spots and small fires within the burned area.

Etoile Volunteer Fire Department responded with Tanker 1, Brush 1, Brush 2, and five firefighters.

All units cleared the scene and returned to their stations around 1:30 PM.

We appreciate the teamwork and cooperation of Melrose VFD and Kingtown VFD. Mutual aid is an important part of protecting our rural communities, and today’s response was another example of neighboring departments working together.

A friendly reminder: Never leave a burn pile unattended. Even a small fire can quickly spread into surrounding grass and woods, especially when dry vegetation is present

10/26/2026

Trunk or treat is almost here.
YAY

10/22/2026

❤️ Jan “Juice” Amen ❤️
April 20, 1954 – November 16, 2026

On October 12th, 2026, the Texas A&M Forest Service held a memorial honoring Jan “Juice” Amen at the Camp Swift National Guard Facility in Bastrop.

I wasn’t able to attend, but Desiree was there, and she said it was amazing. ❤️

Honestly, how could it not have been? A beautiful, well-deserved final tribute to a woman who gave so much of herself to others. An amazing last honor for an amazing human being. ❤️

You know, some people come into our lives and leave a little piece of themselves behind. And then there are people like Juice, who leave behind a whole lot of love, a whole lot of memories, and a space that just can’t be filled by anyone else.

Knowing Juice was knowing what it meant to be a true volunteer. Someone who gave her time, her heart, and herself because she genuinely cared. She LOVED Etoile (and Paul 😍), and if you knew her, you know she didn’t have to make a big production out of caring. She just did. That was Juice.

I don’t know about y’all, but I have thought about her A LOT over this past year. There are moments when someone crosses your mind, and you find yourself smiling at a memory. Then there are other moments when you realize all over again just how much you miss them.

I sure have missed her.

I miss the people who make a difference simply by being who they are. The ones who show up, lend a hand, love their people, and somehow become woven into the very fabric of a community. You don’t always realize just how much those people mean to you until you can’t pick up the phone, see their face, or hear their voice anymore.

And that’s the thing about a life like Juice’s. It doesn’t end with a memorial. It carries on in the people she loved, the lives she touched, the good she did, and the memories that still bring a smile to our faces, even when our hearts ache a little.

So, tonight, let’s raise a glass of w**e 🍷 (because Lord knows Juice loved her w**e! 😍) to a lady who will never be forgotten.

To the memories, the laughter, the love, and all the little things that made her Juice.

Thank you, Jan, for the love you gave this community and for the piece of your heart you left right here in Etoile.

We sure do miss you, lady. And I hope you knew just how much you were loved. ❤️🥹

10/21/2026

❤️ My good friends and neighbors of Etoile…

We at the EVFD are pleading with you. No, wait… BEGGING you! Please, PLEASE hold off on burning for just a little while longer. 🙏

Now, before anyone says, “But we aren’t under a burn ban!” — you are absolutely right. We are currently NOT under a burn ban. But Mother Nature has apparently decided that rain is overrated, the ground should be crispy, and the wind should be blowing just enough to make things interesting. 😳

We have had very little rain, everything is dry, and the wind is not doing us any favors. Those are the PERFECT conditions for a little innocent fire to turn into a whole lot of trouble in a hurry.

Our guys just came in from a grass fire that got away from someone. And while we are thankful they were able to respond, let’s think about what could have happened. Families could have lost their homes, all because of one little spark that decided to go on an adventure nobody invited it on.

Folks, we know you have things to burn. We know those burn piles aren’t going to clean themselves up (wouldn’t that be nice? 😂). And we know a little rain would make everybody feel a whole lot better about lighting a match.

But we are asking you, from the bottom of our hearts, to PLEASE WAIT.

It won’t be long before we get some much-needed rain, and hopefully, Mother Nature will quit acting like she has a personal grudge against East Texas. 😂🌧️

Until then, let’s give those matches a vacation, leave the lighters alone, and let those burn piles sit a little longer.

Our firefighters are always willing to answer the call, but we would sure love for them to spend a little more time at home with their families instead of chasing fires that could have been prevented.

We love this community, and we want to keep our families, homes, and neighbors safe. ❤️

Please help us help you. Wait just a little while longer before burning.

With love, a whole lot of concern, and a few firefighters who would really appreciate a quiet day…

Your friends at the Etoile Volunteer Fire Department 🚒❤️

10/15/2026

Hello again…

As we all know we are NOT under a burn ban.

HOWEVER I was asked this morning to ask the community to hold off on any burning.

The weather advisory has let us know that we will be getting some winds, and with our dry conditions we’ve been having…. Sparks can easily drift towards the trees.

Please help us out and just don’t burn for a little bit 😍

Oh… and I love your face ❤️