CADDO, Texas — Through an $89,900 Texas A&M Forest Service Volunteer Fire Department grant,
the Caddo Texas Volunteer Fire Department has updated its fleet with a newer brush truck to use for
wildfire response.
“This truck will add reliability to our fleet,” said Fire Chief David Campbell. “Having a truck that
doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, frees me up from constantly making expensive repairs.”
The four-wheel drive Ford F-450 can travel on rough terrain and has a 400-gallon water tank with
foam capability.
“Our service area is a ranching community with thousands of acres of grassland,” said Campbell. “The
fire department was established after some of the fires in 2011 threatened many of our homes. We
started out fighting fires with farm implements and spray tanks.”
The new truck has already been used at three fires. The 15-member department provides mutual aid to
all of Stephens County. Funds from a wild game cook-off helped offset the department’s portion of
costs.
“We received monetary assistance for the cost-share portion from the Breckenridge business owners,
Stephens County ranch landowners, friends, family, and Caddo Texas VFD members,” said Campbell.
“It would be pretty tough though trying to make this kind of purchase without the grant programs
being available through Texas A&M Forest Service. Small departments just can’t do it.”
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.
Visit http://texasfd.com for more information.