CLYDE, Texas –– Oplin Volunteer Fire Department received an excess military vehicle through Texas
A&M Forest Service as part of the DoD Firefighter Property Program.
“As a small department serving a small community, we often don’t have the funds to purchase our own
vehicles,” Fire Chief Douglas Campbell said. “We had a 1980 model Chevrolet, but it was getting old and
we were unable to take it some places without fear of damaging it.”
The department painted the vehicle nonmilitary colors; removed aspects of it that were not useful for
firefighting; and added a tank, pump, emergency lights and radios.
After being converted, the truck is now useful in the suppression of wildfires and structural fires, as well
as responding to automobile accidents.
“Serving 100-square miles, the vehicles capabilities are an enormous asset to our department,”
Campbell said. “It can respond to emergency situations faster and provide us with about 1,200 gallons of
water once we get to them.”
The DoD Firefighter Property Program, managed nationwide by USDA Forest Service, provides excess
military equipment to fire departments and emergency service providers. Launched in Texas in 2005,
this program has released over 300 retired military trucks at no cost to VFDs across the state to help
them better protect lives and property.
“This program is a tremendous help to VFDs like ours because without it we wouldn’t be able to afford
new trucks,” Campbell said. “It’s great for small and large departments.”
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.