Feb. 28, 2017 — Gatesville, Texas — Turnersville Fire Department received a grant from Texas A&M Forest
Service’s Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. The $200,000 cost-share grant was used to
purchase a new large brush truck.
“The addition of the new truck to the Turnersville Fire Department will help to increase the department’s
capacity to protect the community and surrounding area,” said Mitchell LaMonte, Texas A&M Forest Service
Regional Fire Coordinator.
The truck will carry rescue and firefighting equipment and is equipped with a front bumper turret that is
controlled from inside the truck cab. It will allow for quick attack on grass, vehicle or structure fires.
“This will be our multi-use vehicle because of its capacity to carry 5 firefighters and all of our equipment,” said
Fire Chief Alan Thompson. “It also has a 1,000-gallon water tank and a 20-gallon foam tank. The foam is used
with the water and acts as a wetting agent. It also helps smother the fire and keep it from re-igniting.”
The department raised their share of the cost with the sale of ice that was sold with the department’s label on
each bag. They sold 27,406 bags of ice in 15 months, with all of the proceeds going to the department.
“Turnersville FD has 15 volunteers on the roster but we are always looking for more people,” said Thompson.
“We welcome dedicated individuals who would like to give their time and be trained to help protect the
community.”
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.