Granger Volunteer Fire Department recently purchased a new Cascade
Air Breathing System thanks to a grant from Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural Volunteer Fire Department
Assistance Program.
The system, a first for the department, is an arrangement of large high pressure gas cylinders and a compressor.
Together they are used to fill the smaller self-contained breathing apparatuses, often called air packs, used by
firefighters and other rescue personnel to provide breathable air in “Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health”
atmospheres, like those encountered during fires.
“We had to travel to another department to get the air packs refilled and sometimes we had to leave them
overnight or go the next day, which meant we were without them if we had to respond to an emergency,”
explained Cervenka.
Having this equipment at the department is also cost effective.
“It saves us time, money and we can refill the bottles as often as we need,” said Cevenka.
The Granger Volunteer Fire Department has been serving their community and surrounding area since 1892.
They are always looking for opportunities such as this grant, to increase their capacity to serve their community
and Williamson County.
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 the Texas State Legislature and administered
by Texas A&M Forest Service. This program provides funding to rural VFDs for the acquisition of firefighting
vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing, dry-hydrants, computer systems and firefighter
training.
To learn more about the fire department assistance programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, visit
http://texasfd.com.