A Night That Changed Pflugerville: The 1971 Fire with Ron Moellenberg

On July 20, 1971, a devastating fire swept through downtown Pflugerville, forever changing the trajectory of the Pflugerville Volunteer Fire Department. Retired Chief Ron Moellenberg joins us to recount his firsthand experience of that historic night—how he jumped in to help before ever considering firefighting as a career. With an inadequate water supply and a single tanker, local crews struggled to contain the blaze until reinforcements arrived from surrounding areas. This pivotal event sparked a movement to improve fire protection, eventually leading to the creation of Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2. Join us as we explore the history, resilience, and evolution of fire services in Pflugerville.