GUN BARREL CITY, Texas — Gun Barrel City Fire Department purchased a new slip-on unit with a $16,256 grant from
Texas A&M Forest Service. According to Fire Chief Joseph Lindaman, they did not have to wait long to put the unit into
service. The fire department has already used the new slip-on unit to contain three grass fires.
Chief Lindaman states,” The unit is currently on one of our older vehicles, but we will soon transfer it to a new truck that
weighs less. The combination of the lighter truck and slip-on unit will give us the ability to get off the road into softer ground to fight fires in pastures and farmland.”
The slip-on unit is designed for ease of use. It has a lightweight and corrosion-resistant 300-gallon tank, and the pump
delivers a strong water flow. This provides firefighters the ability to effectively suppress fires in their community and
surrounding areas.
“Our service area is around 32 square miles, including the northeast side of Cedar Creek Lake where during holidays and weekends our population fluctuates anywhere from 9,000 to 12,000 extra people. That increase in the number of
people makes a big difference in a small community,” says Lindaman. During these times, the number of grass fires
increases as well because people are clearing and cleaning up their weekend property. This slip-on unit will certainly
give us an advantage over the increase in grass fire calls.”
“The new slip-on unit is a real benefit for fire departments whose service areas are rural. The unit will help increase their
wildland capabilities, which aids in saving lives and property in the community and surrounding areas,” said TFS Regional
Fire Coordinator Justin Lynch.
Volunteer firefighters operate 85 percent of the fire departments in Texas. This year, TFS will pass approximately $24.3
million along to VFDs across the state. The grants aid in purchasing equipment and obtaining vital firefighter training, giving them greater capabilities to protect life and property in their communities.
“The grants that TFS have to offer are of real value to volunteer fire departments. Our department has training aids and
equipment that we would not have been able to purchase without their assistance,” Chief Lindaman said.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.