April 14, 2016 — MARLIN, Texas — A new coat of paint and some feature conversions by the Marlin
Volunteer Fire Department have repurposed a five-ton military truck into a new fire response vehicle.
The Marlin VFD received the military cargo truck through the Department of Defense Firefighter Property
Program, which sends retired military vehicles into the hands of volunteer fire departments. The 5-ton 2006
BMY military cargo truck was stripped of its camouflage paint and then outfitted with a 1500-gallon poly tank,
pump, hose reel, emergency lights, and a fresh coat of bright fire-engine-red paint.
“We had a 1968 truck through the [DoD’s] Federal Excess Personal Property program, but with that program
the department did not own the vehicle,” explained Chief James Adams of the Marlin VFD. “We applied for the
truck through the FFP program because it becomes the property of the VFD, and we take possession of the title.
It has been a very good replacement truck.”
The truck has four-wheel drive, power steerin,g and an automatic transmission. It is expected to bring better
safety and efficiency to the department as a multi-purpose unit.
“We serve a community that has a lot of ranch- and farm-land, so we respond to brush and grass fires,” said
Chief Adams. “We also have it set up to use as a small tanker for structure fires. It has high ground clearance
,too, and we recently used it in high water rescues.”
Launched in Texas in 2005, the U.S. Forest Service and the Texas A&M Forest Service administer the no-cost
program that transfers the military property.
Texas A&M Forest Service picks up the vehicles from military bases around the country, and their in-house
mechanics inspect the vehicles for any major issues. Once the department obtains the title to the vehicle, it is
theirs, and they must use local funds for converting it for firefighting use and maintenance. Fundraising and
donations are important in helping the departments make these changes and repairs.
For more information on this and other fire department assistance programs offered by Texas A&M Forest
Service, visit http://texasfd.com.