A $200,000 grant through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program enabled Greenwood Slidell Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a new tanker.
The truck is a 2016 Freightliner M2-106 tandem axle chassis wet-side tanker with high-side compartments. It can carry 3,000-gallons of water, has a 500-gallons-per-minute pump, and a 30-gallon foam tank.
The vehicle also carries a 3,000-gallon folding tank.
Texas A&M Forest Service Resource Specialist Keith Vaughan explained, “Folding tanks are designed for rural areas where water is difficult to supply. The collapsible tanks improve the firefighting capability at the fire scene because of having more water access. Two people can unload the tank off of the firetruck and have it ready for use in just a short time.”
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 fire departments 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.