August 9, 2016 — FRIONA, Texas — Rhea-Hollene Volunteer Fire Department received a retired military
vehicle from Texas A&M Forest Service as part of the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program.
The 1991 Bowen-McLaughlin-York M931A2 five-ton truck is replacing a 1967 five-ton the department
received from Texas A&M Forest Service years ago.
“The old truck was having mechanical issues and was just too hard to get parts for,” said Rhea-Hollene VFD
Chief Monty Schueler.
Rhea-Hollene VFD had 180 days to convert the new truck into a fire-fighting apparatus, transferring a
2,000-gallon tank with skid-unit from the previous truck.
“We had to move the rear axles back to give room for the tank,” said Schueler. “We added a pump, hoses, and of
course painted it red.”
The truck, named “Bodacious,” gives the department a more reliable truck that is capable of moving through
various terrains, and according to Schueler, will be used for a variety of responses.
“We’ve already used the truck on several fires, mostly grass/wildland fires,” said Schueler. “It’s a huge asset to
our department.”
The DoD Firefighter Property Program, overseen by the USDA Forest Service, provides excess military
equipment to fire departments and emergency service providers. Launched in Texas in 2005, this program has
released over 400 retired military trucks to VFDs across the state to help them better protect lives and property.
Texas A&M Forest Service transports the vehicle from a military installation, performs necessary repairs, and
delivers it to the volunteer fire department at no cost to them.
For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.