Etoile Volunteer Fire Department

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 🚒❤️

10/19/2026

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 ❤️

10/13/2026

🚒 WELL, Y’ALL… THE EVFD APPARENTLY DOESN’T BELIEVE IN SITTING STILL! 😂

I know the EVFD has had A LOT going on over the past few weeks.

Whew! We’ve been running in so many different directions that I’m beginning to think we need to issue GPS devices just to keep track of ourselves. 😂

But hey, it’s all been for good reasons, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! ❤️

Now, because apparently we haven’t mastered the art of sitting down and doing absolutely nothing, we have TWO more events coming up in the next couple of weeks! 🤦‍♀️😂

🎃 FIRST UP: OUR ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT!

Saturday, October 31st, beginning at 5 PM!

I get ridiculously excited when Halloween falls on Halloween. 😂 I know, I know… technically, that’s how holidays work, but humor me. There’s just something extra special about celebrating the holiday ON THE ACTUAL HOLIDAY! 😀

We can’t wait to see all those adorable costumes, little ghosts, goblins, superheroes, princesses, and whatever else y’all come up with this year! ❤️

🍂 AND THEN THERE’S THE FALL FESTIVAL!

Now, let me tell y’all… a last-minute shift in plans, along with some new information, brought most of us at the EVFD to the realization that YES, THERE WILL BE A FALL FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 17TH! 😂

Surprise! Plot twist! Somebody tell the calendar we’re adding another event! 🤣

The festival will run ALL DAY, from 10 AM until 6 PM!

There will be music, food, drinks, and vendors!

I realize that many of you beautiful people will be out perusing the community garage sale, while the rest of you will be busy trying to convince strangers that the stuff in your garage is worth WAY more than what they’re offering. 😂🤣

We understand. We support you. We wish you tremendous success in your negotiations. May your treasures find new homes and may nobody offer you fifty cents for something you paid $200 for. 🙏😂

BUT WHEN YOU’RE FINISHED… COME SEE US! ❤️

Stop by the fall festival, grab something to eat, enjoy the music, visit the vendors, and spend a little time with your friends and neighbors.

We promise we’ll be happy to see you!

And if you happen to come home with more stuff from the garage sale than you started with… well, that’s between you and your spouse. We’re not getting involved in that conversation. 😂😂

We love this community, and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone!

October 17th: Fall Festival, 10 AM–6 PM!

October 31st: Annual Trunk or Treat, beginning at 5 PM!

Put it on your calendars, set your reminders, tell your neighbors, and come spend some time with us! ❤️🚒

Because apparently, around here, if we aren’t doing something, we’re probably just trying to figure out what we forgot to do! 🤣

10/10/2026

Here’s an EVFD update of upcoming events (and a buddy community reminder)

October 17th is the Etoile community garage sale.
I actually think it’s the 16th and 17th. YAY
October 17th is the fall festival
October 31st will be trunk or treat
December 11th pancakes with Santa
December 12th Santa around town north
December 13th Santa around town south

09/30/2026

Monday nights training at the EVFD was on lift assist.
They were practicing on how to safely get people off the floor, out of a vehicle, out of a chair.
Can I just say… we truly have an AMAZING volunteer fire department ❤️❤️
All the training they do is absolutely wonderful.
We are so lucky to have them.

09/27/2026

The EVFD is getting ready to cook the pork and chicken for the Macedonia church’s event tomorrow.
They would LOVE for everyone to attend.
I think they will be serving lunch out in the tent they have set up around noon.
Hope to see everyone there ♥️

09/24/2026

According to the Etoile Volunteer Fire Department bylaws, officer elections are held each year during the September business meeting. This year’s elections were held Monday, September 14.

Etoile Volunteer Fire Department is proud to announce our leadership team for 2026–2027:

Elected Officers

Fire Chief – Andy Sanders
Assistant Fire Chief – David Berry
Captain, Station One – David Pickett
Captain, Station Two – Desiree Gomez
Lieutenant, Station One – Koda Kelly
Lieutenant, Station Two – Jason Conway
Secretary – Jessica Pickett
Treasurer – Nancy Berry

Appointed Positions

Chaplain – Jerry McGuire
Medical Officer – Denise Randell
Training Officer – Jim Opre
Fundraising Officer – Betty Stordalen
Public Information Officer – Candy Cox

We appreciate each of these members for stepping forward to serve in leadership roles. Running a volunteer fire department takes more than responding to emergencies. It takes people willing to give their time to training, administration, fundraising, equipment readiness, community outreach, and the many other jobs that keep the department operating.

We look forward to another year of serving the Etoile community.