REDWATER, Texas — Redwater Volunteer Fire Department converted a military vehicle into a firefighting
machine, giving the department greater capacity to fight wildland fires. The addition of a slip-on unit with a 500
gallon poly tank and a Hale pump helped to complete the brush truck conversion.
The slip-on unit was purchased with a $20,000 grant from the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
The 2.5-ton excess military truck was received through the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program
(DoD FFP), both programs are administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service.
“Our department didn’t have a heavy brush truck that could get into some of the wooded, hilly terrain and farmland,”
said Redwater VFD Fire Chief Terry Moore. “This new addition will serve us well as a wildland brush truck and also
as a high-water rescue vehicle.”
The DoD Property Program requires the recipient to paint the vehicle a non-military color and convert it to perform
an emergency response function within 180 days of acquisition.
“We completely painted the truck and added lights, radio, siren, and tires,” said Moore. “The grant allowed us to add a
large water tank that will be a benefit to the rural areas because it not only carries 500 gallons of water but can draft
from a pond or creek.”
Redwater VFD has been serving their community and surrounding area since 1970. Anyone wanting to volunteer may
apply in person on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Redwater Fire Station, 120 Red River Road.
Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through various fire department assistance
programs. The Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program launched in Texas in 2005, is one such program
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 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.