CORRIGAN, Texas –– Corrigan Volunteer Fire Department recently received a $200,000 grant to go towards the
purchase of a large brush truck through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural VFD Assistance Program.
“We opted to add to our fleet in order to increase our capability to serve our community,” Fire Chief John
Cobb said.
With a service area of 324 square miles, the majority of Corrigan VFD’s fires are outside of the Corrigan city
limits and reach as far as the northern part of Polk County.
“Most of our fires are grass, brush, and trash fires,” Cobb said. “The large brush truck will give us a greater
advantage over these types of fires by providing us with the capacity to carry 800 gallons of water.”
In addition to the truck’s significant water-carrying capacity, its foam capabilities increase the department’s
fire suppression abilities.
The new truck can be used for traffic control and vehicle fires. According to Cobb, these capabilities are of
value when the department seeks to provide aid on Highway 59, which runs the length of their service area.
Over 85 percent of fire departments in the state of Texas are either completely or mostly operated by
volunteers. TFS passes approximately $12.8 million along to volunteer fire departments across the state every
year, helping them purchase equipment to better protect lives and property.
“I think the Texas A&M Forest Service programs are great,” Cobb said. “There are a lot of volunteer fire
departments that wouldn’t have equipment and trucks without the grant programs.”
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.