June 7, 2016 — PENELOPE, Texas — Penelope Volunteer Fire Department was recently awarded a military
excess vehicle from the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program and an HB2604 grant, both
administered by Texas A&M Forest Service.
Recipients of the military vehicle are required to convert it into a service-ready unit within 180 days of
acquisition.
“Our volunteers painted it and added a water tank, pump, whip lines, foam tank and bumper monitor,” Penelope
VFD President David Kucera said.
The $20,000 grant was for the purchase of a slip-on unit.
A slip-on unit is designed to be a fast initial-attack firefighting unit. It is used in wildland firefighting as well as
structure and vehicle fires and is a complete self-contained firefighting apparatus designed for a pick-up truck or
custom-built vehicle platform.
The transformed truck will have a large impact on the department’s capabilities as it replaces a twenty-year-old
vehicle that had smaller tanks.
The service area of the Penelope VFD is mostly farm land and pasture according to Kucera.
“In the past we had several corn field and cotton module fires, so this vehicle will give the department a great
advantage when fighting those types of fires,” Kucera said.
The truck also brings the capability to perform high-water rescues as well as structure and vehicle fires.
Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Matthew Schlaefer said, “The department is happy to
have a multiuse truck that will be beneficial when responding to grass and structure fires.”
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 program visit http://texasfd.com.