LEMING, Texas — Leming Volunteer Fire Department recently converted a 6×6 5-ton excess
military tractor truck into a 5,000-gallon super tanker, to shuttle water to wildland and structure
fires.
“Our service area is rural without the access to fire hydrants, so our water source is pretty
limited,” said Leming VFD Fire Chief Andrew Martinez. “This vehicle will be used to carry our
water supply and also to help our neighboring VFDs with mutual aid.”
The department previously used oil field trucks when responding to calls, but now it will have its
own water source. Leming VFD recently responded to a mobile home fire in an oil field area and
had surplus water after the fire was extinguished. This new apparatus should prove to be an asset
to the community.
“Our department has benefitted not only from the DoD Firefighter Property Program, but also
from the HB3667 Insurance Program that reimbursed 100% of insurance cost for each of our
volunteers,” Martinez said.
The DoD Firefighter Property Program provides excess military equipment to fire departments
and emergency service providers. Launched in Texas in 2005, this program has released over
300 retired military trucks to VFDs across the state to help them better protect lives and property.
The USDA Forest Service oversees the program, and it is directed by Texas A&M Forest Service.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.