Feb. 8, 2016 — EARTH, Texas — Earth Volunteer Fire Department transformed a 1994
military 5-ton cargo vehicle into a service-ready machine in four months. Volunteers completed
all necessary conversions which included replacing the soft top cab, sand blasting, and painting
the truck, adding a 1,650-gallon poly tank and a water cannon that will deliver 250 gallons of
water per minute.
“Over 60 percent of our territory is grassland and sandy hills,” said Earth VFD Fire Chief
Mathew Goe. “A conventional truck would get stuck in this type of terrain, but the six-wheel
drive is perfect for getting out to the wildland fires.”
The vehicle was made provided through the Department of Defense Firefighter Property
Program administered by Texas A&M Forest Service.
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.