The Alabama Coushatta Indian Nation Volunteer Fire Department was recently awarded a $218,000 grant for the purchase of a new tender.
The tender is a 2016 International chassis outfitted with a 1,500-gallon water tank, a 1,250-gallon per minute pump and a 30 gallon foam tank for the compressed air foam system (CAFS).
Alabama Coushatta Indian Nation VFD volunteers named the truck “Snowman” due to the foam put out by the CAFS system.
Fire Chief Willo Sylestine said, “The truck was purchased through the Texas A&M Forest Service program which helped our communities to obtain a top notch firefighting apparatus for our department to continue the services that we provide.”
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.
For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.