April 29, 2016 — COLD SPRING, Texas — A $20,000 grant was recently awarded to Cape Area Volunteer
Fire Department to purchase a new slip-on unit.
A slip-on unit is a self-contained firefighting rig designed to slide into or onto the flatbed of a truck. It includes
hose, water tank, pump, and an engine to drive the pump.
“The slip-on unit grant was awarded through the HB 2604 grant program,” Texas A&M Forest Service
Resource Specialist Jason Calvet said. “This updated equipment will be valuable in helping the department save
lives and property in their community and mutual aid area.”
The unit has a 300-gallon water tank and a 10-gallon foam tank that premixes the foam with the turn of a dial.
“This slip-on is an improvement to our fleet because of the configuration and convenience of the controls and
dials,” Cape Area VFD fire Chief Randy Hall said. “The rotation of the hose reel allows for more hose and for
the attachment of a 1 ½ inch attack line and a bigger nozzle, which is helpful when we need to reach a fire in
taller trees or if it’s windy.”
Generally, the department responds to a population of about 2,500, but that population tends to increase in the
summer and weekends due to how close the department is to several recreation areas, including the Trinity
River.
“Our district has about 850 homes, recreational areas, farming, and logging. Our county is one of the poorest
counties in the state, so we were glad to receive this grant from TFS,” Chief Hall said.
The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance 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. It is a cost-share program funded by the Texas State Legislature and administered by Texas
A&M Forest Service.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.