April 25, 2016 — BARTLETT, Texas — Bartlett Volunteer Fire Department received a 1990 BMY military
transport truck through the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program, a skid unit thanks to a $20,000
a grant from Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program and a bumper
turret which was donated by Mason Turkey Farms.
“We had to completely sandblast and repaint the truck,” said Bartlett VFD Chief Steven Wentrcek. “We sent it
to a local welding shop, and they did the railing, front bumper, tailboard, and roll bar. We also added storage and
a tank so we can use it as a tanker for [both] structure fires and wildland fires.”
The skid unit has a 30-gallon foam tank, a 300-gallon per minute pump, and a dump valve. The bumper turret is
a device that is mounted on the bumper which mimics the motions of a firefighter holding and moving a hose,
and is designed for wildland firefighting.
The truck has already been beneficial in responding to requests for assistance with flooding. Last weekend, the
Bartlett VFD was called on for mutual aid to two high water rescues in Milam County.
“We had nine inches of rain in four hours, and our local crossings had 3 to 4 feet of water,” Chief Wentrcek said.
“Getting a call for this truck specifically was very rewarding for our department’s volunteers who dedicated so
much of their time in converting it into a firefighting vehicle.”
For more information on fire department assistance programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please
visit http://TexasFD.com.