Eula Volunteer Fire Department adds a new 2018 Freightliner tender to their fleet thanks to a Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program cost share grant. The $200,000 grant plus support from the community made it possible for the department to make the purchase and retire an older truck.
“This new tender has a 3,000-gallon water tank and a drop tank that will hold the same amount of water,” said Assistant Fire Charlie Dawson. “Having immediate access to that volume of water is crucial to our service area because of the lack of fire hydrants.”
According to Dawson the tender is a versatile machine that helps to meet the need for adequate water in their area. It can be used to supply water for a structure fire or refill brush trucks with water when fighting wildland fires.
The truck is in service and has been used for a mutual aid wildland fire.
The department has been serving their community since 1984 and strives to increase the capacity of their department with training and updated equipment.
Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, a cost share program funded by Texas State Legislature and administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. This program provides 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, please visit http://texasfd.com.