Terrell Volunteer Fire Department used a cost share grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program to help purchase a 2017 Freightliner water pumper/tender that will help to increase the department’s capacity to save lives and property in their community and surrounding area. The tender will be housed at the departments Central Station.
“We are very thankful for the grant program through Texas A&M Forest Service,” said Terrell Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Donald Lindsey. “Our department could never have made this type of purchase on its own. We have been setting money aside for four years to cover the cost share portion.”
The new truck is identified as Engine 1 and is equipped with a 1300-gallon water tank, 40-gallon foam tank with a compressed air foam system (CAFS), deck gun, LED lighting and a lot of storage space for firefighting and rescue equipment.
“The primary use of this truck will be structure fires,” said Lindsey. “It can carry six firefighters and a large amount of water to areas that do not have fire hydrants and the CAFS foam system triples the effectiveness of the water, giving us greater control and a quicker knock down.”
Firefighting foam is used for fire suppression. It cools the fire and coats the fuel, preventing contact with oxygen. The firefighter spreads a blanket of foam on the area involved, smothering the fire and decreasing the possibility of it reigniting.
The firefighters took part in a special driving course and attended pump school to familiarize themselves with the tender.
“Our community will benefit greatly from having such an updated truck and it will also be used with our standing mutual aid in the north part of Kaufman County,” said Lindsey.
Terrell Volunteer Fire Department was established in 2007 and has a 100-square-mile protection area that includes rural farm and ranch land, gas wells, Texas Interstate 20 and the Union Pacific Railroad. The department has open enrollment to new committed volunteers who would like to give back to their community. An application may be picked up at the fire department after 2 p.m., seven days a week or call the station at (972) 551-2727 for more information.
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 Texas State Legislature and administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. This program provides funding to rural Volunteer Fire Departments 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.