ODESSA, Texas – With the help of a $155,000 grant from Texas A&M Forest Service, South Ector
County Volunteer Fire Department replaced their 1976 model truck with a brand new brush truck.
“We bought the old truck about three years ago,” Fire Chief John Bell said. “It was pretty much on
its last leg.”
The new brush truck will offer the department many new capabilities, as well as allowing them to
operate more efficiently.
“This new truck will be a much more reliable unit,” Bell said. “Our old truck was a standard so not
everyone could drive it. Now every member of the department will be able to drive the truck safely
when needed. It also holds double the water of our old engine and has double the pump capacity.”
TFS passes approximately $12.8 million along to volunteer fire departments across the state every
year, helping them purchase equipment to better protect lives and property.
“This program is amazing,” Bell said. “Without TFS there would be no way we could get a truck like
this. The grant program not only helped us tremendously, but also helps countless other
departments across the state.”
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.