BRENHAM, Texas – Prairie Hill – Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department accepted an excess Stewart
Stevenson military truck through the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program. They also received a
$20,000 grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. The department coupled the
grant with community support to purchase a slip-on unit with a 400-gallon water tank and foam capability,
which helped the department meet the challenge of converting the truck into a firefighting machine.
“Our service area is about 65 square miles, which includes rural areas that can sometimes be difficult to reach,”
said Prairie Hill – Rocky Hill VFD Fire Chief Doyle Dahmann. “This rugged truck has high ground clearance,
4-wheel-drive and will be able to get into areas our other trucks can’t.”
The truck will carry a cache of wildland tools and is ready for response to grass fires, highwater rescue, and
search and rescue.
“Volunteer firefighters play a large and prominent role in providing fire protection for rural areas, and they are
doing so without many of the resources of larger agencies,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire
Coordinator Justin Graf. “Purchasing and maintaining equipment are huge challenges for rural fire departments.
I am proud to see Prairie Hill – Rocky Hill VFD protect and serve their community. They are good people
doing a great service for their community.”
The department is grateful for community support that not only helps with equipment purchase but also day to
day expenses. The alliance between the community and firefighters allows volunteer fire departments across Texas
to continue to serve their neighbors.
“One of the stipulations for receiving this truck was to paint it a nonmilitary color; thanks to community support
, we were able to meet that condition, plus add emergency lighting and radios. We appreciate the community’s
response to fundraisers that help us throughout the year,” said Dahmann.
Prairie Hill – Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department has been offering fire service since 1959 and currently has
open enrollment for anyone wishing to be trained to protect fellow citizens and their property. To apply, visit
their website at http://www.prairiehillvfd.org.
Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through various fire department
assistance programs. The Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program launched in Texas in 2005, is
one such program and has released over 800 retired military trucks to Volunteer Fire Departments across the
state. The Agency transports the vehicle from a military installation, performs necessary repairs, and delivers it
to the volunteer fire department at no cost to them. The USDA Forest Service oversees the program nationwide
and is the supplier of the excess military equipment to fire departments and emergency service providers.
For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.