The Emory Volunteer Fire Department in Rains County has purchased a new tender through the Texas A&M Rural Volunteer Fire Department Grant Assistance Program.
The tender is equipped with a 1,500-gallon tank and will be used to assist in fires where there are no fire hydrants or as a standalone engine for structure fires. Around 90% of the district is without fire hydrants, so the added capacity will be extremely beneficial to the community.
The unit is stationed at a rural substation in Rains County, allowing the Emory VFD’s 23-year-old engine to be placed into a reserve status.
Since receiving the tender, the department has used it to respond to two structure fires and it has provided water supply for multiple others.
The Emory VFD would like to thank the Texas A&M Forest Service and the taxpayers of Texas for providing it the opportunity to upgrade its fleet.
The Emory VFD is recruiting new members. For more information, follow its Facebook page, facebook.com/EmoryFire, or drop by the station on Mondays at 7 pm.
As a member agency of the Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M Forest Service administers the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program and is committed to protecting lives, property and natural resources. The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program is funded by the Texas Legislature and provides cost-share 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, visit texasfd.com.