COLEMAN, Texas Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department converted a Stewart Stevenson military
truck into an apparatus capable of getting into the most challenging of areas since the ranching and
farming area that they serve has heavy brush and rocky terrain.
“This truck is a whole different monster,” said Glen Cove VFD President Scott Beaver. “We are
replacing an older truck with this one that has a lot of bells and whistles and can carry up to eight
firefighters. It is also higher off the ground, allowing us to get out into difficult locations with ease.”
The department received a $20,000 grant through the Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire
Department Assistance Program and combined it with a Coleman County Foundation Grant to
purchase a new slip-on unit.
“We painted the truck yellow for greater visibility and added a slip-on unit with a 500-gallon water
tank and foam capability because the foam helps to smother the flame and increases the water knock
down ability,” said Beaver.
The truck was acquired through the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program. FFP
launched in Texas in 2005 and has released over 600 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 USDA Forest
Service oversees the program nationwide and is the supplier of the excess military equipment to fire
departments and emergency service providers.
For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.