The Iowa Colony Volunteer Fire Department added a new fire truck to their fleet thanks to a cost share grant from Texas A&M Forest Service through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. It has a 1,000-gallon water tank, foam capability and is now in service.
“Our department’s planning committee spent many hours in designing this truck to make sure that it met all the needs of our response area,” said Iowa Colony VFD Fire Chief Stephen Bynum. “Everything from the front bumper storage area for our Jaws-of-Life to the cab seating, surround lighting on the outside of the truck and winch system is very well organized and easily accessed when in emergency response.”
The department serves an area that includes portions of Texas State Highways 288 and 6 and Farm to Market Road 1462.
“This truck is purposed with three things in mind: rescue, firefighting and transporting water,” said Bynum. “It is very nimble and is capable of traveling our less improved streets and is more manpower efficient since five firefighters can be transported to the scene of an accident or fire.”
The tender has been on several calls and functioned very well, increasing the departments capacity to serve this rapidly developing area.
“This well-equipped, dual-purpose apparatus will be a great benefit to our community for many years to come,” said Bynum. “We are pleased to have it in our fleet.”
Iowa Colony VFD has been serving their area since 1970 and appreciates their communities support especially during the recent fund raiser with the proceeds going towards the purchase of new rescue equipment for the truck and values the role that Texas A&M Forest Service played with the grant opportunity and the Brazoria County ESD#3 for their contribution towards the purchase.
As a member agency of the Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M Forest Service administers the Rural VFD Assistance Program and is committed to protecting lives, property and natural resources. The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program is funded by Texas State Legislature and provides cost share funding to rural volunteer fire departments for the acquisition of firefighting vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing, dry-hydrants, computer systems and firefighter training.
For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.