GATESVILLE, Texas –– Turnersville Volunteer Fire Department recently replaced an old skid unit with a newer, safer
piece of equipment. This new skid unit will help them serve their community more effectively and was made available to
them through an $18,000 grant administered by Texas A&M Forest Service.
“The truck we were using was not compliant with what we needed,” Fire Chief Allen Thompson said. “We needed to
update our truck to make it safer for our personnel to operate.”
The grant helped the VFD replace the whole fire package on the back of one of its existing trucks with an updated version.
“With the new unit, this truck will operate as a combination unit for us,” Thompson said. “We can fight grass fires and
respond to medical calls now. The old unit was very unsafe. This new pump will operate better for our personnel out there fighting the fires.”
Thompson said the department was in much need of this grant but also recognized the great need for other fire
departments for this same type of aid.
“The grant program is much needed,” Thompson said. “There are many departments out there that just don’t have the
funds available to them to purchase the necessary equipment for serving their community.”
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 unit they were using was in sad shape,” Regional Fire Coordinator Steven Carter said. “It was basically
unserviceable. This new unit will give them the capacity to respond to emergencies with a newer and safer piece of
equipment, and ultimately better protect people and serve the community.”
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.