May 9, 2016 — TAYLOR, Texas — Taylor Volunteer Fire Department was recently awarded a military excess
vehicle from the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program administered by Texas A&M Forest
Service.
Recipients of this program are required to convert the vehicle into a service-ready unit within 180 days of
acquisition.
“When we received the vehicle it was still camouflage,” Taylor VFD Chief Billy Hughes, Jr said. “We sanded it
down, painted it white, and added lights and stickers. The volunteers did the paint job in-house. We also bought a
remote nozzle for the front bumper.”
In addition to receiving the truck, Taylor VFD was awarded a $20,000 grant from Texas A&M Forest Service’s
Rural VFD Assistance Program. The grant was for the purchase of a slip-on unit which was installed onto the
military truck.
A slip-on unit is a durable apparatus designed to become a fast initial-attack firefighting unit. It is used in
wildland firefighting as well as structure and auto fires and is a complete self-contained firefighting system
designed for a pick-up truck or a custom built vehicle platform.
The department values the dependability of the rugged vehicle and knows it will be beneficial when responding to
calls in the surrounding farming community.
Chief Hughes explained that the main crop grown in the Taylor VFD service area is cotton and the large cotton
bales can generate $20,000 each.
“If any moisture is left in the bale, the bale could ignite. Having the capability to get into the fields … to save even
part of a bale saves the livelihood of that family,” Hughes said.
The truck also brings the capability for the department to perform high-water rescues, something their other
vehicles could not do.
The chief expressed his appreciation for the truck and grant.
“I would like to personally thank our state legislature and Texas A&M Forest Service for having these outlets for
the VFDs. Without the grant options, the equipment and training possibilities for VFDs would not be available.”
Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through its various fire department
assistance programs. For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit
http://texasfd.com.