Having sufficient water is critical at the onset of a fire. Mabank Volunteer Fire Department now has a new water tender capable of carrying 4,000 gallons of water and 30-gallons of foam. The tender was purchased thanks to a $200,000 cost share grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program administered by Texas A&M Forest Service.
“This new 2020 Kenworth water tender is replacing a 1994 International,” said Mabank Fire Chief Ricky Myrick. “The new apparatus can draft water and also has a drop tank that can hold another 4,000 gallons of water. The new truck will be more dependable and easier to maneuver.”
According to Myrick there are water hydrants in the city limits but the truck is capable of drafting water from static sources and providing sufficient water for fire suppression in more rural areas. Having the ability to maintain a water source for fighting fire can give the firefighters the upper hand for a quicker knock down, saving property and reducing hazardous risks for firefighters.
Fire Chief Myrick has been serving as Chief of Mabank VFD for 30 years. He and the department volunteers are glad to have the new apparatus as part of the department’s fleet.
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 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.