Doss Volunteer Fire Department improved both its equipment and
its capabilities with the help of a $15,000 grant from Texas A&M Forest Service.
The cost share grant helped the VFD purchase several new items including a Rapid Intervention Team
bag, a cascade system and a thermal imager.
“This equipment is a new addition that will support many of the items we already have,” said Doss VFD
Assistant Chief Mark Geistweidt. “The RIT bag is a very serious piece of equipment. We will use it as
an oxygen source if a firefighter needs to be rescued.”
Doss VFD covers an area that is mostly farm and ranchland. About 75 percent of their calls are wildfire
related with the rest being structure fires or motor vehicle accidents.
“This equipment will assist Doss VFD with the tools necessary to respond to a broad spectrum of
incidents that include search and rescue,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator
Garry Barney. “The citizens that are covered by the Doss response area are fortunate to have a proactive
fire department with state of the art technology.”
While serving under Texas A&M AgriLife, Texas A&M Forest Service works with fire service
cooperators throughout the state to minimize the loss of life and property in response to wildfires and
other all-hazard emergencies. This year Texas A&M Forest Service is set to award approximately $24.3
million in grants to volunteer fire departments for the purchase of equipment and training.
To learn more about this program visit texasfd.com.