Jan. 25, 2016 — CROSBYTON, Texas — Crosbyton Volunteer Fire Department recently received a military
surplus vehicle thanks to the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program administered by Texas A&M
Forest Service.
Crosbyton VFD worked hard to transform their 1990 BMY model, M923A2 military truck into a firefighting
vehicle by painting it a nonmilitary color and installing a skid unit, hose, lighting and radio.
“This truck is beneficial to our department because it will be able to maneuver the rough Caprock Escarpment
terrain that surrounds Crosbyton,” said Crosbyton VFD Fire Chief Jim Justus. “The truck will also be useful
when fighting wildland fires in the three canyons or on the brushy rolling plains that are home to ranchers,
farmers and oil companies.”
The truck also has a 1600-gallon water tank with a compressed air foam system. The foam system is useful in
fire suppression because it cools the fire and coats the fuel, preventing its contact with oxygen, resulting in
suppression of combustion.
“This new conversion will allow us to get ahead of the fire and get in there and stay longer to work on
extinguishing the flame,” said Justus.
The DoD Firefighter Property Program provides excess military equipment to fire departments and emergency
service providers. Launched in Texas in 2005, this program has released over 300 retired military trucks to
VFDs across the state to help them better protect lives and property. The USDA Forest Service oversees the
program; Texas A&M Forest Service picks up the vehicle from a military installation, performs necessary
repairs and delivers it to the Volunteer Fire Department at no cost to them.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.