August 25, 2016 — SAINT JO, Texas — Texas A&M Forest Service recently awarded a $200,000 grant to
Saint Jo Volunteer Fire Department for a new brush truck through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department
Assistance Program.
The truck, a 2016 Kenworth tanker, is a replacement for the department’s 16-year-old Ford tender.
The new truck has a 1,250-gallon-per-minute pump and can carry 3,000 gallons of water. It also has a drop tank – a portable water tank that allows the truck to empty its water capacity so smaller brush trucks can refill while
the tanker goes to get more water.
“This truck is pretty much three trucks rolled into one,” said Saint Jo VFD Fire Chief Scott Thomas. “You
never know what you are going to run into when responding to a call, so the vehicle is well-equipped for any
situation, which allows us to be prepared when we arrive.”
Chief Thomas says the truck will be an all-around truck used for structure fires, wildland fires, and vehicle
accidents.
The new truck hasn’t gone into service, as the volunteers are still being trained on how to safely maneuver the
vehicle.
“Safety is a priority to our department,” explained Thomas. “It is a big truck so the volunteers will be trained to
drive it and get acquainted to where the controls and equipment are.”
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 the Texas State Legislature and administered
by Texas A&M Forest Service. This program provides funding to rural VFDs 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.