September 20, 2016 — CASON, Texas — Cason Volunteer Fire Department recently received aid from two
assistance programs administered by Texas A&M Forest Service.
The department received an excess military vehicle, a Bowen-McLaughlin-York five-ton transport truck, from
the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program.
A requirement of the program is that the department turn the military vehicle into a fire-fighting apparatus
within 180 days of acquisition.
“We painted the truck and did some other repairs like moving the red line reel down behind the cab so a fire
fighter doesn’t have to be on top of the truck to reach the line,” said Jerry Ragsdell, Cason VFD Chief. “Being
able to reach the line from the ground is a safety issue and safety is a priority with our department.”
In addition to the military truck, the department also received a grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire
Department Assistance Program. The grant was used to fund a slip-on unit for the back of the truck.
A slip-on unit is a complete, self-contained fire-fighting apparatus designed for a pick-up truck or custom-built
vehicle platforms. It is intended to become a fast, initial attack fire-fighting component used for wildland fire
fighting, structure and automobile fires. The truck could also be utilized for high-water rescue when needed due
to the height.
“It will be a benefit to our department because it will carry a large amount of water and can add foam which
blankets the fuel and helps better suppress the fire,” Ragsdell said. “Having a heavy-duty brush truck will give
us an advantage when fighting grass fires and being able to have so much water will be a big benefit.
Cason VFD, established in 1950, has 12 volunteers that serve a population of approximately 1,500 people over
28 square miles of Morris County.
Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through its various fire department
assistance programs. For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit
http://texasfd.com.