ROMA, Texas – Roma Volunteer Fire Department accepted an excess military truck from the Department of
Defense Firefighter Property Program and a grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance
Program. The grant was used to help purchase a slip-on unit converting the vehicle into a tanker for firefighting.
Both programs are administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service.
“One of the stipulations in accepting this military truck was that it be painted a nonmilitary color,” said Roma
Fire Chief Alfredo Garza. “The department did all the sanding and painting on the truck, and a local welder did
the metal work, building a roll-over cage and front-end protection that will allow us to get into the brushy areas
without damaging the truck.”
The town of Roma is located near the Rio Grande and is prone to flooding. There were two weather events that
had serious impact. In 2008, the area received 15 inches of rain in an hour, leaving some areas with very high
flood waters, and in 2010, when flood waters receded, a thick deposit of sand remained.
“This all-wheel drive truck can easily get in and out of the sandy areas, so it is perfect for brush fires and is high
enough to allow for high water rescue,” said Garza. “We put a lot of thought into the configuration of the 635
gallon water tank for the slip-on unit. It is positioned like an upside-down T that will safely accommodate 8 to
Ten people during a high water rescue.”
The Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program launched in Texas in 2005, is a program that has
released over 700 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 excess military equipment program is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service which also
oversees the national program. The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program is funded by Texas
State Legislature; both programs are administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service.
For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.