The 2604 Volunteer Fire Department recently purchased new rescue
equipment thanks to a grant through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance
Program.
The department purchased both new and replacement items with their grant.
“We received several pieces of fire equipment but the two that are new to our department are the thermal
imaging camera and scene lighting,” said 2604 Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Robert Palasota. “The
camera is very vital in detecting hot spots in a structure fire or finding an individual when doing search and
rescue. We always had to borrow another department’s camera but now we will have immediate access.”
A thermal imaging camera is an important tool that helps quickly locate heat, allowing the fire-fighter to assess
the situation and save lives and property.
“Another of the indispensable new tools that we received is scene lighting,” said Palasota. “The lights telescope
to six feet and operate on a battery that lasts up to seven hours. They are excellent lighting to be used during any
type of emergency that we have at night, auto accidents or structure fires.”
According to Palasota the department has open enrollment and is in need of willing volunteers. Anyone
interested may attend a department meeting that is held at the fire station the second Monday of every month at
7 p.m.
Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through the Rural Volunteer Fire
Department Assistance Program, a cost-share program funded by Texas State Legislature and administered by
Texas A&M Forest Service. This program provides funding to rural VFDs for the acquisition of firefighting
vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing, dry-hydrants, computer systems and firefighter
training.
For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.