A $100,000 grant made available by Texas A&M Forest Service enabled the City of
Escobares Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a new small brush truck.
“Our Department had only one brush truck, so we are happy to have added another to our fleet,” Fire Chief
Lauro Ramirez said.
The department required an additional truck to keep up with response needs of not only the budding
community, and assist neighboring departments with mutual aid.
“Escobares is a small but growing town. Even though the population is only 2,000, they respond to mutual aid.
calls to the surrounding cities of Roma and Rio Grande City and other Starr County Fire Departments,” Texas
A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Travis Pecht said.
According to Pecht, the new truck allows the department to respond to grass fires, automobile accidents and
structure fires faster than before.
“The new small brush truck will allow our department to respond more effectively to calls and gain better initial
control of fires until we can be joined by an engine or pumper,” Ramirez said.
After receiving the truck, it was put into service right away to respond to a grass fire.
“The truck can carry four firefighters at a time and has firefighting options that can be remotely controlled from
the cab; also the ramps, rails and four nozzles will be helpful to firefighters in fire suppression,” Mayor Noel
Escobar said.
Over 85 percent of fire departments in Texas are either completely or mostly operated by volunteers. TFS
passes approximately $12.8 million along to volunteer fire departments across the state each year, helping
them purchase equipment to better protect lives and property.
“Similar to many VFDs, we are a nonprofit organization that depends on local fundraising,” Ramirez said. “We
are thankful that TFS offers grants for equipment that our department needs.”
To learn more about this program visit texasfd.com.