BELTON, Texas — Thanks to a $100,000 Rural VFD Assistance grant through Texas A&M
Forest Service, Sparta Volunteer Fire Department has replaced a 1980 brush truck.
The new Wildland truck is a Dodge 5500 series equipped with a 500-gallon water tank and a 10
gallon Class A foam system. This versatile apparatus is not only a wildland firefighting machine
but can be used when responding to structure fires and emergency medical calls.
“The foam system is a plus for our wildland use since we are in a rural area and right on Lake
Belton,” said Fire Chief Roby Taylor. “It is also easier to drive, making it a flexible, multi-use
machine.
The truck was recently put into service when the department responded to several fires this
season.
“This grant was a great asset for our department,” said Taylor. “The TFS grants that are available
to VFDs give them the tools they need to help the communities in Texas.”
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.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.