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JONESBORO, Texas –– Jonesboro Fire Department recently received an $18,000 slip-on unit grant throughTexas A&M Forest Service’s Rural VFD Assistance Program. “We applied for this grant to enable us to add another truck with firefighting capabilities,” Fire Chief BobbyBuster said. Once paired with a truck, the slip-on unit will replace a 1970 Chevrolet pickup truck […]

ROCK ISLAND, Texas –– Rock Island Volunteer Fire Department recently received a $200,000 to go towards thepurchase of a new tanker through a grant from Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural VFD Assistance Program. “We needed a new tanker to replace our 1993 model pumper,” Fire Chief Patrick Smith said. “We didn’t havethe excess funds to […]

KAMAY, Texas –– Kamay Volunteer Fire Department received an excess military vehicle through Texas A&M ForestService as part of the DoD Firefighter Property Program. “The truck that this one will eventually replace was put into service about 15 years ago,” Fire Chief Barry Tyler said. “Weneeded a dependable vehicle, and the older truck was beginning […]

Bremond Volunteer Fire Department recently received a $15,000 grant for rescueequipment through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural VFD Assistance Program. “We applied for this grant to help pay for much needed equipment,” Assistant Chief Keith Rakieta said. Bremond VFD purchased a thermal imaging camera, heavy-duty lights, a gas detector and rescue chain saws toreplace their […]

Natural disasters are frequent in Texas. To collaboratively meet the demands of responding to wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes and flood events, all-hazard response incident management training is needed—training that emergency responders will receive at the East Texas Interagency Wild

Windcrest Volunteer Fire Department recently received a $118,000 small brush truckthrough Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural VFD Assistance Program. “We applied because our fleet was depleting,” Fire Chief Eric Vargas said. “The majority of our vehicles areupwards of 15 years old and are not fully functional.” The new truck has four-wheel drive and can accommodate […]

WICHITA FALLS, Texas –– Established in 2006, Friberg-Cooper Volunteer Fire Department hasbeen working to improve its capacity to fight fires by attaining up-to-date equipment.Converting a military truck received from the DoD Firefighter Property Program helped them dojust that. The program, administered by Texas A&M Forest Service and managed nationally by USDAForest Service, provides excess military […]

VAN ZANDT, Texas –– South Van Zandt Volunteer Fire Department recently received a $200,000 tanker through TexasA&M Forest Service’s Rural VFD Assistance Program. “We applied for the grant to replace a 1984 model tanker truck,” South Van Zandt Board of Directors President TimMeredith said. “The old truck was becoming hard to repair.” A 2015 international […]

ANGELINA RIVER, Texas –– Angelina River Volunteer Fire Department recently received a$200,000 grant for a large brush truck through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural VFD AssistanceProgram. “The large brush truck is acting as an upgrade to our equipment,” Firefighter Jim McCallie said.By carrying a water tank capable of holding 1,000 gallons, the new truck will […]

Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department recently received an $11,000 grant for a set of extricationtools through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural VFD Assistance Program. “Our department replaced a set of cutters, jaws, rams and a power unit that was in excess of 30 years old,” Fire ChiefJeremy Powell said. The tools can cut through car metal, […]