Grapevine Citizens Fire Academy Alumni

ing communities had done so. Several had formed alumni associations and Grapevine graduates quickly followed suit. GCFAA became a way for citizen volunteers to help GFD and our community in any way the GFD found appropriate. Like many smaller cities, Grapevine did not have a formal operation in place to provide rehabilitation services to its GFD personnel. Our alumni believed there was a need for such a rehab program and that our members could offer it. After several meetings between GFD senior officers and GCFAA members, the GCFAA launched Rehab 561 (R561) in March 2003. R561 provides basic support items, such as refreshments, high energy snacks, ice, wet towels and hot coffee in colder weather, to Grapevine firefighters and public safety personnel responding to any incident occurring in our city. Since its inception, R561 has grown into an integral part of the GFD with our teams regularly being called upon to provide rehab services. The Rehab Calls section on our website contains pictures and overviews of our growing history of service. The ultimate goal and dream for R561 was to have its own self contained, mobile rehab vehicle. This dream became a reality on August 16, 2005 when the Grapevine City Council, by unanimous consent and proclamation, donated a 1999 Chevrolet Wheeled Coach ambulance to the GCFAA to use as our rehab vehicle. This incredible gift from our City took us leap years ahead of where we had hoped to be at this point in our existence and was an expression of trust and commitment our entire membership takes very seriously. The story behind this amazing donation is avaible in our Rehab Vehicle section. R561 made its inaugural run as a Mobile Support Vehicle on October 6, 2005, only days after being formally placed in service by the GCFAA. Along with our Rehab 561 activities, the GCFAA helps the GFD with other public outreach and educational programs. These activities have included GFD’s Pancake Breakfast with Santa, Care Caravan, Butterfly Flutterby, Bass Pro Firefighters’ Chili Cook-off Fundraiser, various venues of GFD’s Fire Safety House and helping with Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts. We are proud of our organization’s accomplishments and think our mission statement sums up what we are all about,