DAWSON, Texas — Dawson Volunteer Fire Department received a grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, enabling the department to expand its fleet’s ability to be more aggressive when responding to a wildland fire.
“The department replaced an 11-year-old truck with a 2017 Ford F-550 that has a 400-gallon water tank, foam
capability, remote control front bumper turret, and nozzles on the front and back bumpers and sides of the truck,” said Dawson Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Darryl Rogers. “We are glad to have a dependable truck that gives us the option to respond and extinguish a grass fire with fewer personnel.”
The truck was put into service just in time to respond to two separate farm machinery fires, a combine fire and a hay baler fire.
“The primary purpose of the truck will be wildland firefighting but can also be used for most any type of fire and
medical response or traffic control,” said Rogers. “The foam capability is ideal for the grass fires because the foam gives better suppression rate, allowing a firefighter to put out a fire using less water.”
Dawson Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1943 and serves a 72-square-mile protection area.
“Having the capability to carry a large amount of water to those who do not live in areas that have access to fire
hydrants is a real benefit,” said Rogers. “It gives us the capability to respond into those rural areas in a greater
capacity.”
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 Texas State Legislature and administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. This program provides funding to rural Volunteer Fire Departments 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.