SNYDER, Texas— The Snyder Volunteer Fire Department replaced a 5-ton military vehicle with a new large
brush truck, thanks to a $218,000 grant from Texas A&M Forest Service. The new apparatus will be used for
wildland and structural fires and farming incidents.
The new truck is equipped with a Compressed Air Foam System that has a 1,000-gallon tank and the capacity to
hold 20-gallons of foam. CAFS is one of the most significant innovations in modern fire suppression
technology. The foam deprives the fire of oxygen and is five times more effective than water.
“The compressed air foam system will be a great benefit to our rural community for different types of fires,
especially with farm incidents like cotton module fires. The cotton module contains about 20 bales of cotton and
can be a real challenge to extinguish,” said Perry Westmoreland, Fire Chief.
According to Westmoreland, the vehicle has proven its dependability and that it is a great asset to the
department.
“We have already used the vehicle to respond to wildland fires and the Hermleigh Fire that involved three
structures, simultaneously,” Westmoreland said.
“Having the TFS grants available to VFDs is important for the life of volunteer fire departments,”
Westmoreland said. “We are the only department in the 900 square miles of Scurry County service area, so the
grants are important to provide us with dependable trucks and the correct gear and training needed when
responding to fires.”
Volunteer firefighters operate 85 percent of the fire departments in Texas. This year TFS will pass
approximately $24.3 million along to VFDs across the state. The grants aid them in purchasing equipment and
obtaining vital firefighter training, giving them greater capabilities to protect life and property in their
communities.
Snyder VFD has served its community since 1911. It currently has 18 members on the roster and is always
looking for individuals who are willing and ready to train in firefighting and rescue techniques.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.