Having multiuse, reliable equipment is extremely valuable to a volunteer fire department. With a $20,000 grant from Texas A&M Forest Service, Blum Volunteer Fire Department was able to purchase a new slip-on unit for one of its trucks.
A slip-on unit is a highly mobile, self-contained apparatus used as an initial attack unit to fight wildland fires. The unit contains a poly tank and pressure pump that is mounted on the back of a flatbed or custom-built vehicle.
“With this new unit, we were able to upgrade equipment that we already had,” Blum VFD Chief Brandon Munn said. “We replaced some military pods that we had on this truck and added a 1200-gallon water tank and 20 gallon foam tank.”
For a department that serves an area of 86 square miles, Blum VFD is excited to put the new capabilities of the slip-on to use, according to Munn. “It will be a multiuse vehicle because we can use it as a tanker, large brush truck, to shuttle water, or we can pull the inch-and-a-half nozzle off and use it for structure fires.”
Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Matthew Schlaefer said, “Blum VFD is very pleased to have this unit as it is a big asset to the community and the rest of Hill County. They appreciate the TFS programs being available to VFDs.”
Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, a cost-share program funded by the Texas State Legislature and administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. This program provides funding to rural VFDs for the acquisition of firefighting vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing, dry hydrants, computer systems, and firefighter training.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.