84 East Volunteer Fire Department received a new tender through the Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
“The water tender not only carries a large quantity of water but can draft from a pond or creek,” said 84 East VFD Fire Chief Alan Fox. “It also has four-wheel-drive, front bumper monitor and spray nozzles, LED scene lighting and enough storage space to carry all of our wildland gear and air packs.”
According to Fox, the department’s service area includes hunting leases as well as a paper mill and tree plantation, where having a dual function apparatus that can be used as a water tender and heavy brush truck can be very beneficial.
“84 East VFD had their new tender built based on research and experience when tackling emergencies ranging from wildland fires to structure fires,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Josh Bardwell. “This multipurpose platform can engage fires with a front mounted nozzle controlled from within the cab, refill other engines with its 1,380-gallon capacity tank, helping firefighters to go on the offensive, stopping fires swiftly.”
84 East VFD has been serving their community since 1982. The department has 14 dedicated volunteers that cover a 120-square-mile protection area and respond with mutual aid when called upon by surrounding departments.
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 Volunteer Fire Departments 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.