DAINGERFIELD, Texas –- The community of Rocky Branch has just become a bit more safe.
The Rocky Branch Volunteer Fire Department has received a $200,000 grant through Texas A&M Forest Service to go
toward the purchase of a new fire engine.
The award was presented to the VFD on the last week of February at a ceremony that included the famous Smokey Bear.
”Thanks to the assistance of TFS we were able to replace a 1974 model truck that was taken out of service because it
was unsafe,” said Kevin Knight, Rocky Branch VFD fire chief. “If it wasn’t for the grant, we would not have been able to
afford another fire engine.
The cost-share grant is administered through the TFS Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. The program
assists VFDs like Rocky Branch in securing equipment and training to enhance their emergency response capabilities.
These grants are important because VFDs respond to 90 percent of wildfires in Texas. They do it with little to no money
and staff made up primarily of volunteers.
“Being able to purchase this truck from the grant fund will be a huge benefit to the community,” said Nathan Carroll, Texas
A&M Forest Service regional fire coordinator. “This will greatly help increase the department’s water supply when trying to
put out a fire.”
The Rocky Branch VFD award is among the $12.8 million passed through TFS to Texas volunteer fire departments each
year.
The Rural VFD Assistance Program was created during the 77th Texas Legislature. Largely due to the many programs
that assist fire departments, the state agency has received seven national awards from the USDA Forest Service for
extensive work in assisting underserved communities.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.