Feb. 9, 2016 — NEW BOSTON, Texas — New Boston Volunteer Fire Department converted
a 1990 5-ton cargo military vehicle into a multipurpose machine, useful in high water rescues
and wildland firefighting.
“This is the type of truck that can be used to protect our rural area without any problems,” said
New Boston VFD Battalion Chief Ronald Clark. “The vehicle is simple to drive and can be used
in all terrain as a tender or a brush truck.”
The VFD painted the vehicle a non-military color, added a 2,000-gallon water tank, a 300 gallon
per minute pump, a monitor and a 1.5 inch red line booster hose.
New Boston VFD has served the community and surrounding area since 1870. The converted
truck gives them greater capacity to continue to serve and protect life and property.
The DoD Firefighter Property Program, a program managed nationwide by the USDA Forest
Service, provides excess military equipment to fire departments and emergency service
providers. Launched in Texas in 2005, this program has released over 350 retired military trucks
to VFDs across the state. Texas A&M Forest Service picks up the vehicle from a military
installation, performs necessary repairs, and delivers it to the Volunteer Fire Department at no
cost to them.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.