Union High Volunteer Fire Department received its first new brush truck with a $103,000 grant from Texas A&M Forest Service.
The brush truck is equipped with a compressed air skid unit, something the department had not had access to previously.
“This program is great because we operate mostly on fundraisers,” Fire Chief Leonard Mixon said. “We had been using a 1973 model grass truck, so this brand new truck will be a huge asset to us.”
The VFD utilized the grant program at TFS previously to attain some small rescue equipment. Adding this truck to the department’s fleet will benefit it in many ways, according to Mixon.
“[The truck] is automatic, so everyone in our department will be able to drive it unlike with our other trucks,” Mixon said. “It’s also air foam equipped. It will be a huge asset to the community and surrounding areas.”
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 truck will help them immensely,” District Fire Coordinator Troy Case said. “They are a young department and all of the equipment they were using was very old. This is the first brand new truck they have ever had. It will not only help them get to grass and wood fires more quickly, but with the compressed air unit it will help them with structure fires as well.”
To learn more about this program visit texasfd.com.