WOODVILLE, Texas — Texas A&M Forest Service awarded the Shady Grove Volunteer Fire
Department a Stewart Stevenson 2.5-ton cargo military truck through the Department of Defense
Firefighter Property Program and an $18,700 grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department
Assistance Program.
The grant helped purchase a slip-on unit to complete the conversion of the military truck into a
wildland firefighting apparatus.
“This new slip-on unit addition will be a valuable asset to our department when we are called to fight a
wildland fire,” said Shady Grove VFD Fire Chief Jonathan Phillips. “It will allow us to have the water
and firefighting foam readily available for brush or grass fires.”
The excess military truck only had 12,042 miles on the odometer at the date of transfer to the
department, making it a good choice as the department prepares for the winter fire season.
“Equipping this truck with a slip-on unit is a cost-effective tool that is versatile, compact, and self
contained,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Ricky Holbrook. “The unit has
a 500-gallon water tank and a ten-gallon foam tank and will serve the department well.”
Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through various fire
department assistance programs. The Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program launched in
Texas in 2005, is one such program and 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 USDA Forest
Service oversees the program nationwide and is the supplier of the excess military equipment to fire
departments and emergency service providers.
“TFS is very helpful and dependable,” said Phillips. “They are an asset to VFDs through service,
funding, and creating working relationships. The funding takes a big burden off small department
expenses for costly equipment,t and it is greatly appreciated.”
For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit
http://texasfd.com .