Muleshoe Volunteer Fire Department recently
purchased new stabilization equipment thanks to a grant from Texas A&M Forest Service’s
Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
Stabilization equipment helps to steady a vehicle before extrication of an accident victim can
begin.
The new addition is a first of its kind for the department.
“We haven’t ever had this type of stabilization equipment. We will be using it mostly for auto
accidents, but can also use it to stabilize building walls as needed,” explained Muleshoe VFD
Chief Tom Ladd. “We took some training courses and they used this type of equipment in the
training. We felt that our department and community would benefit from it.”
The Muleshoe Volunteer Fire Department serves approximately 6600 individuals in Bailey
County.
“This equipment will improve our department’s capability for safety and also for faster
stabilization that will allow us to get the scene stabilized and get the victim out in a swifter
manner,” Ladd said.
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 fire department assistance programs offered by Texas A&M Forest
Service, visit http://texasfd.com.