Ravenna Volunteer Fire Department now has a new 3,000-gallon water tender thanks to a cost share grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. The tender also has a remote-controlled deck gun, back-up camera and can pump water from a pool or other water source.
“This new addition to our fleet will help to meet any challenges that we may have had in water availability in the more remote places of our protection area,” said Ravenna VFD Fire Chief Andy Walker. Ravenna VFD and other mutual aid departments work together to offer fire service to their communities and rural areas.
“The tender will not only benefit our department but the surrounding departments that we mutual aid with,” said Walker. “It is important to be able to function as one unit when responding as a mutual aid department so we trained together on this tender allowing us to work as a well-oiled machine when the call comes for a big wildland or structure fire.”
Fire Chief Walker appreciates community support even in these uncertain times of COVID19.
“This year we missed our fund raisers but some of the community still sent in a few donations,” said Walker. “Hopefully in the near future we can have an event and show off our new tender that is so important to fire suppression in our area.”
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 Volunteer Fire Departments 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.