July 20, 2016 — WHEELER, Texas — Texas A&M Forest Service recently awarded Kelton Volunteer Fire
Department a $19,800 grant to purchase a new slip-on unit through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department
Assistance Grant Program.
A slip-on unit is designed to become a fast initial-attack firefighting unit. It is used in wildland firefighting as
well as structure and auto fires and is a complete self-contained firefighting apparatus designed for a pickup
truck or custom-built vehicle platform.
“This new slip-on is going on a 2003 Ford F-350 one-ton pickup truck,” said Kelton VFD Chief Mike
Braddock. “It has a 400-gallon water tank and a Compressed Air Foam System with a 135-gallon-per-minute
pump.”
Chief Braddock expects to get a lot of use out of the new brush truck and slip-on unit. “We only have one small
quick-attack truck right now. All of our other trucks are larger, military-type trucks. This new one will be an
extra quick-attack truck that will allow us to respond faster.”
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 the 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.
To learn more about the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, and other programs offered by
Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.