June 30, 2016 — CISCO, Texas — Cisco Volunteer Fire Department recently received a $118,000 grant to
purchase a small brush truck through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance
Program.
The 2016 truck contains a compressed air foam system and lots of storage space for firefighting and rescue
equipment, something the 32-year-old truck it is replacing didn’t have, according to Cisco VFD Chief Walter
Fairbanks.
“We will also be adding a deck-mounted turret that will be remote-controlled,” Fairbanks said. “That adds a
safety element for our volunteers because we will be able to fight the fire from inside the truck.”
“This unit is greatly appreciated by the community of Cisco and will be a benefit to them and the surrounding
area because it is small and more agile than a larger apparatus. It is equipped with some of the latest technology.
That technology, combined with the fact that it is smaller,r will help to decrease response times to incidents and
be a more flexible vehicle,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Resource Specialist Nick Dawson.
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.
For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.