Our Mission
The ESD seeks to enter into a long-term committed partnership with the County of Henderson, working together to develop the best services we can for District 12 residents and property owners, taking into account the limited resources available to the District.
We seek to achieve this goal by leveraging and coordinating the resources available to the District with those available to the County and the City of Chandler to maximize efficiency and avoid redundancy.
Our long-term strategic plan shall be developed to achieve this goal, and this relationship shall be reflected in our Policies and Procedures, fire code, and other District documents as needed.
Our History
It was 1970 when Hattie Mae and Tom Banks’ house on FM 2010 burned to the ground before neighbors could form a bucket brigade. The fire’s rapid spread caught the attention of Chandler citizens, revealing a need for a volunteer firefighting organization.
While there was no official fire department, the community had a used fire truck, stored at Sam May’s Filling Station at the corner of FM 315 and SH 31. In 1968, the truck was moved into the old train station south of the railroad tracks.
This building had dirt floors and space under the doors that allowed skunks, armadillos, and other wild animals to encamp under the truck. The building had no restrooms.
The Formation of the Chandler Volunteer Fire Department
After the Bank’s house fire, a group of local businessmen, teachers, and other community members met at John Clark’s house, forming the Chandler Volunteer Fire Department.
By 1988, the city of Chandler had grown to 1300, and with the help of local citizens and groups like the Chandler Hobby Club, $48,000 was raised to build a new facility located on FM 315 S.
Since the opening of the new fire station, many Bar-B-Qs, Fish Fries, and donations have made it possible for the Chandler volunteers to expand their inventory.
The Emergency Service District 12 is Established
As the community continued to experience more growth, the fire department required more income. In 2022, an election was held to create the taxing district ESD 12. The district began collecting taxes in 2023 to provide the department with updated equipment, gear, and trucks.
Since January 2023, the department has been a part of Emergency Service District 12 and receives funding through an annual tax. The Chandler Volunteer Fire Department (501c 4 Non-Profit) also receives grants through government agencies for additional funding.
The department now has a new truck purchased in 2025, firefighting equipment, a meeting room, an office space, a kitchen, and dining areas, along with bathrooms and showers.
The fire station has been improved over the years and now includes temperature-controlled bays for equipment, washers and dryers for sanitizing uniforms, updated safety equipment, and communication systems.
Robert York, who has served since 1980, has been the fire chief since 1987, and the Chandler Volunteer Fire Station was renamed in his honor in 2024. Today, the department is made up of 20 volunteers.
