TYNAN, Texas –– A $200,000 grant administered by Texas A&M Forest Service enabled Tynan Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a new brush truck. The new large brush truck will replace a converted 1974 Ford.
“The old truck had aged tremendously,” Fire Chief Thomas Mengers said. “It had rusted out and began to have mechanical problems. In short, it was no longer reliable.”
The department finds the new truck’s reliability to be its most valuable quality. “This truck is helping to resolve many challenges our department has been facing,” Mengers
said.
The new brush truck will be a great asset by reducing the department’s response time and by being a very dependable machine. “Planned to be first out on calls, the truck is already in partial service,” Mengers said. “In fact, it responded to a fire just the other day.” Over 85 percent of fire departments in Texas are either completely or mostly operated by volunteers. TFS passes approximately $12.8 million along to volunteer fire departments across the state each year, helping them purchase equipment to better protect lives and property.
“Our primary response area is 90 square miles with a population of over 1,000 people, so it is important for us to have a truck to properly aid us in fire suppression,” Mengers said. “Without the help of programs like this one, we could not afford to do that. They are truly fantastic.”
To learn more about this program visit texasfd.com.