MATHIS, Texas – With the help of a $200,000 grant the Mathis VFD will now be able to better protect the community from
fires.
The cost-share grant administered through Texas A&M Forest Service helped the fire department to purchase a new truck
that will enhance their emergency response capabilities.
“We are from a low-income town and didn’t have the funds to purchase a truck such as the one we received,” said Mathis
VFD Fire Chief Jacob Longoria. “We cover a rural section of San Patricio County and previous trucks didn’t always carry
enough water to effectively fight fires.
The new engine will provide up to 3,000 gallons of water to help contain fires. It is also equipped with a dump valve that
allows the truck to drop water for another truck to use, providing a constant supply of water.
Previous older trucks only carried from 500 to 1000 gallons of water.
Covering several small communities including Lake City, Lake Side, Mathis ,and San Patricio City, the department needed
a reliable vehicle able to meet the rigorous demands of firefighting.
“We appreciate the grant and are very excited to have our new truck and to supply the fire safety our community needed,”
said Longoria.
These grants are important because VFDs respond to 90 percent of wildfires in Texas and do it with little to no money
and a staff made up primarily of volunteers.
The Mathis VFD award is among the $12.8 million passed through TFS to Texas volunteer fire departments each year.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.