Texas A&M Forest Service awarded a $200,000 grant to Oglesby Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of a new firefighting vehicle. The grant was through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
The new vehicle is a 2017 water tender, equipped with a 3,000-gallon water tank and a 20-gallon foam tank.
“We are proud to receive this dual service tender that is built to fight fire and carry water,” said Oglesby VFD Fire Chief Mark Luckie. “Our community has a few water hydrants but the piping isn’t adequate enough to be able to hook up and pull water in case of a fire.”
According to Luckie the new tender has a portable drop tank that will hold 3,000 gallons of water that will be useful during structure fires and mutual aid.
“We don’t usually deploy a drop tank but we requested it as part of the tender equipment, just in case we would ever need it,” said Luckie. “We had just received the tender and drop tank and were called to an industrial fire in McGregor. We were glad to have the drop tank available. Having more water was very beneficial with that type of fire.”
According to Luckie the vehicle can serve in multiple roles but its primary purpose is supplying water at the time of need. Previously the department might have to wait on mutual aid to supply enough water to fight a fire and some of those departments are 15 to 20 miles away.
“Olgesby VFD will now have an adequate water source when responding to wildland and structure fires,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Mitch LaMonte. “This tender will help to increase the department’s capacity to serve their community.”
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 VFDs 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.