DOSS, Texas — Doss Volunteer Fire Department accepted a $20,000 grant from the Rural
Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program to purchase a slip-on unit and installed it onto a 5-ton
the excess military truck received through the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program
(DoD FFP), the Texas A&M Forest Service administers both programs.
A slip-on unit is designed to become a fast, initial-attack firefighting unit, durable, flexible, and
highly mobile. It is used in wildland firefighting as well as structure and auto fires and is a complete,
self-contained firefighting apparatus designed for a pickup or custom-built vehicle platform.
Recipients of the DoD FFP program are required to convert the vehicle into a service-ready unit
within 180 days of acquisition and paint it a non-military color.
“The department did all of the work to convert the truck into a firefighting apparatus,” said Doss
VFD Fire Chief Keith Priess. “They painted the truck white and built a new railing along the bed and a
step board in the back, making either side of the truck easily accessible. The slip-on unit that was
added has a 1,000-gallon water tank and a 10-gallon foam cell with a Honda motor.”
According to Priess, the primary purpose of the truck will be wildland firefighting, but because it is
equipped with such a large tank and a dump valve, enabling it to fill the role of a pumper/tender and
will also be utilized when volunteering with the Gillespie County Task Force.
“The apparatus helps to increase our off-road capabilities because it is such a rugged truck and will
be a great benefit when responding to the needs of our community and rural areas,” said Priess. We
appreciate Texas A&M Forest Service having the grant programs available to help volunteer fire
departments.”
Doss VFD was established in 1964, and the 34 volunteers serve a population of 1,100 in a 300
square-mile area.
For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.