Many volunteer fire departments struggle with funding when it comes to getting the
necessary equipment for serving and protecting their communities. Thanks to an $82,100 grant from
Texas A&M Forest Service, Three Oaks VFD purchased a new brush truck to replace one of its older
units.
“We didn’t have enough money to spend on a brand new truck,” Fire Chief Rick Dockery said. “We were
operating with several older trucks, our newest one was probably 26 years old.”
With the addition of this new truck, the VFD sent one of its old trucks to a neighboring department in
need.
Regional Fire Coordinator Garry Barney said the new truck will assist the initial response for Wilson
County and the surrounding area.
“It will help us provide faster response time to fires,” Dockery said. “One man can operate the truck
whereas with our old trucks it took two men. That will help us a lot with our limited manpower to go out
and fight the fires.”
TFS passes approximately $12.8 million along to volunteer fire departments across the state every year,
helping them purchase equipment to better protect lives and property.
“The grant program is awesome,” Dockery said. “I hope to be able to apply again in a couple of years.”
To learn more about this program visit texasfd.com.