November 15, 2016 — RICHLAND, Texas — Richland Volunteer Fire Department recently received an
excess military vehicle, a Stewart and Stevenson two-and-a-half-ton cargo truck, from the Department of
Defense Firefighter Property Program, a program Texas A&M Forest Service administers.
Richland volunteers had 180 days to convert the military truck into a service-ready firefighting apparatus.
“Our department did most of the conversion work,” said Richland VFD Chief Kenneth Guard. “We had the
truck painted in about 10 days and then we installed warning lights, a radio, siren and a slip-on unit.”
In addition to the military truck, the department also received a $19,653 grant through Texas A&M Forest
Service’s Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program to fund the slip-on unit for the back of the
truck.
A slip-on unit is designed to become a fast initial-attack firefighting unit; durable, flexible and highly mobile. It
is used in wildland firefighting, as well as structure and auto fires, and is a complete self-contained firefighting
apparatus designed for a pick-up or custom built vehicle platforms.
“The slip-on unit has a 500-gallon tank and various hoses and hook-ups on the back so that we can fill other
trucks when necessary,” said Guard.
The new truck has been well received by Richland VFD members, and will be used for grass fires, auto
accidents, medical calls, and high water rescues.
Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through its various fire department
assistance programs. For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit
http://texasfd.com.