COLEMAN, Texas –- The Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department, converted a 2.5-ton excess military Stewart
Stevenson into a firefighting machine with a 500-gallon water tank and foam capability. The truck was
awarded through the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program, and the slip-on unit was
purchased with a grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, both administered
by Texas A&M Forest Service.
“Our department had an older deuce and a half truck that gave out, and we replaced it with this Stewart
Stevenson because it is such a rugged truck and can take on the rough terrain and heavy brush in our area,”
said Glen Cove VFD President Scott Beaver.
One of the stipulations for accepting the truck is to paint it a nonmilitary color.
“Brad Russell, one of our department members, spent many hours painting the truck, and we appreciate all of
his hard work in helping to complete the conversion,” said Beaver.
Several sources contributed to the purchase of the slip-on unit.
“We are grateful for the $20,000 slip-on unit grant opportunity through Texas A&M Forest Service and to
the Friends of Coleman County Foundation for their $5,000 contribution,” said Beaver. “We also appreciate
the response from our community at our fish fry that raised $5,000. All three sources together made it
possible to make the $32,000 purchase and complete the truck that will be a vital part of our fleet.”
The truck is in service and has responded to several calls. One being a wildland fire that covered about 35
acres.
Glen Cove VFD Fire Chief Ricky Davis and all the department members are very committed to protecting
their community and in mutual aid.
“Because we work so closely with the fire departments in the area when it comes to wildfires, the addition of
these types of vehicles to department’s fleets help us all to fight fire much more effectively as a collective and
cooperative unit,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Tyler Brown.
Texas A&M Forest Service is an agency operating within the Texas A&M University System, and as the
administrator of the Department of Defense (DoD) Firefighter Property Program is committed to protecting
lives, property and natural resources. The DoD Firefighter Property Program was launched in Texas in 2005 and
has released over 800 retired military trucks to volunteer fire departments across the state. The agency
transports the vehicle from a military installation, performs necessary repairs and delivers it to the volunteer
fire department at no cost to them. The Texas A&M Forest Service excess military equipment program is
sponsored by the USDA Forest Service which also oversees the national program.
For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.