Texas A&M Forest Service recently awarded a $200,000 grant to Somervell County Fire Department for a new tender through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
The grant was used to purchase a 2016 International Navistar five-man cab tender, outfitted with a 1,000-gallon poly water tank, a pump, 10” dump valve and a front bumper attack line.
“This will be one of our first out trucks on structure fires, wildland fires and major vehicle accidents,” said Somervell County Fire Department Chief Mark Crawford. “It has a lot of storage space for firefighting equipment and will also carry a Jaws of Life.”
Somervell County FD’s 40 volunteers and six full-time members serve approximately 9,950 residents over 204 square miles.
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.