HENRIETTA, Texas — Henrietta Volunteer Fire Department recently received a grant from Texas A&M Forest Service to
help purchase a new slip-on unit.
“This slip-on unit is equipped with a larger tank and an improved pump which allows for increased volume and pressure,
enabling us to control and extinguish fires faster,” Henrietta VFD Fire Chief Mike Roberts. “It is on a duce and a half truck
that will be first out on all our grass fires. I believe it will serve us well.”
The historic town of Henrietta is surrounded by topography that can prove to be difficult terrain for equipment and
firefighters.
“Once you get out of our city limits, we have ranch and farmland and areas that are really a challenge; to the north of us,
it is rocky, flat ground with oak and mesquite trees,” said Roberts. “ South of town are ravines, creeks, and rivers. The
truck with this slip-on unit will be able to maneuver the terrain and carry the water needed for any possible fires.”
According to Fire Chief Roberts, the slip-on unit will be a great benefit to the department during the Fourth of July
holiday, which is their most challenging time of year.
“We decided to help curb the fire potential by doing a burn-off in a certain area and then invited the community to come
and set off their fireworks on the prepared ground. Since the celebration is confined to one place, our need to respond
to small fires has been cut dramatically,” said Roberts.
Having the slip-on unit will give them the needed advantage to respond to additional calls.
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 grant funding aids them in purchasing equipment and obtaining vital
firefighter training, giving them greater capabilities to protect life and property in their communities.
“Many volunteer fire departments do not receive large amounts of funding. The grants from TFS are critical to them for
equipment to help protect their communities. This new slip-on unit we received will help us to save a lot of time and
maybe a life,” states Roberts.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.