DEMI-JOHN, Texas ––Demi-John Volunteer Fire Department was recently awarded a $15,000 grant for a
slip-on unit through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural VFD Assistance Program.
The VFD services around 300 homes, the Brazoria National Wildfire Refuge, and an industrial oil filling
area.
“The slip-on unit that Demi-John received will increase their firefighting potential to protect their
community and mutual aid area by providing them with an apparatus that is capable of going off-road in
particular areas,” TFS Regional Fire Coordinator Jeremy Wagner said.
The unit will function as a replacement for a high-pressure slip-on unit that was not effective.
“This unit will allow us the kind of suppression to draw water for other vehicles as well as itself, whereas
the old one did not,” Sterkx said.
According to Sterkx, the machine has a twofold purpose.
“It has a 5-gallon tank for foam that gives us suppression capabilities for wildfires, but we can also use it
for structure fires,” Sterkx 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.
“Texas A&M Forest Service grant programs are a VFDs best source for getting funding for equipment,”
Sterkx said.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.