FLOMOT, Texas –– Flomot Volunteer Fire Department serves a 250 square mile community of just over
100 people consisting mostly of farmers and ranchers. Because of the unique nature of this spacious
community, acquiring additional fire equipment was necessary.
FVFD received an excess military truck through the DoD Firefighter Property Program managed by the
U.S. Forest Service and administered by Texas A&M Forest Service.
Recipients of this excess property are required to convert the vehicle into a service-ready unit within 180
days of acquisition.
“We rely on whatever is donated to us,” Assistant Fire Chief Joe Fuston said. “This truck is replacing
another older truck that was donated to us. After a while, it started needing a lot of maintenance. That is
why we applied for this one.”
The donated truck will help the VFD in more ways than one.
“With Flomot VFD covering such a rural area, this truck will really benefit them and their mutual aid
departments,” Regional Fire Coordinator Cody Holloway said. “It will also increase their water capacity.”
The DoD Firefighter Property Program provides excess military equipment to fire departments and
emergency service providers. Since its founding in 2005, this program has released over 300 retired
military trucks to VFDs across the state to help them better protect lives and property.
“This is the best program that we have ever worked with,” Fuston said. “If it wasn’t for TFS, a small fire
departments would have no way of attaining this kind of equipment.”
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.