Texas A&M Forest Service recently awarded a grant to Jonesboro Volunteer Fire Department for a new water tender through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
The truck, a 2017 Kenworth with a 3,000-gallon water tank, is replacing a 20-year-old vehicle that the department built. The older truck could only carry 1,600 gallons of water.
“The Jonesboro community does not have access to adequate water in the event of a structure fire,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Mitchell LaMonte. “The new water tender will help to increase the availability of water for the community and surrounding rural area.”
The tender also carries a 3,000-gallon portable drop tank that can be utilized to keep the firefighters supplied with water while the tender is refilled from another water source.
“This new addition to our department will be extremely beneficial to fighting fires in our area and also when we respond to mutual aid calls,” said Jonesboro Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Bobby Buster. “We needed a vehicle that not only carried a larger amount of water but also was multipurpose. The new water tender will be used for structure and wildland fires.”
According to Buster, it only takes a couple of trained personnel to operate the new truck. Having this capability to respond to a call with fewer volunteers is a great benefit, especially if there is a call during the day when volunteer response is lower.
Jonesboro VFD has open enrollment for anyone that meets their criteria as a volunteer. The volunteers meet every first, third and fifth Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the fire department. Anyone wishing to apply is welcome to fill out an application on one of those evenings.
Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, a cost-share program funded by Texas State Legislature and administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. This program provides funding to rural VFDs 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.