A $218,000 grant through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program recently enabled Kosse Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a new tender.
The new truck has a 1,000-gallon water tank, 1,000 revolutions per minute power take off pump, and a Compressed Air Foam System.
“The Compressed Air Foam System mixes foam with the water to coat the fuel and smother the fire; and the PTO pump will give us the ability to put out a greater volume of water while using larger lines,” said Kosse VFD Chief Jimmy O’Neal.
Ninety percent of Kosse’s fire response is to wildland or brush fires, which have been on the rise according to O’Neal.
Regional Fire Coordinator for Texas A&M Forest Service Matthew Schlaefer said the truck will be a valuable asset to Kosse VFD and help to increase their capacity to protect their community and surrounding area.
Kosse VFD, established in 1950, serves approximately 1,500 people over 99 square miles of Limestone County.
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 fire departments for acquisition of firefighting vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing, dry-hydrants, computer systems and firefighter training.
To learn more about the fire department assistance programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, visit http://texasfd.com.