Steele Creek Acres Volunteer Fire Department recently purchased new
rescue equipment thanks to a $10,623 grant through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural Volunteer Fire
Department Assistance Program.
The equipment included self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) and 5,100 lumen standing flashlights.
“The SCBAs are a source of air for the firefighter when searching in a smoke-filled structure,” explained Steele
Creek Acres VFD Chief Jesse Bailey.
“The flash lights can be used on structure fires and also when responding to vehicle accidents. They will free
up personnel who would otherwise have to be holding flashlights to light up a small area,” said Bailey. “These
new flashlights are very powerful and when they are placed in the front and back of a wreck the whole area will
light up like it is daylight and then we have all hands free to do what we need to do.”
The lights can be used on a variety of responses, including firefighting, auto accidents, or police assistance.
Steele Creek Acres VFD serves approximately 400 people in a 13-square mile area of Bosque County.
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 this and other programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, visit http://texasfd.com.