WADSWORTH, Texas –– Wadsworth Volunteer Fire Department now has a brand new tanker thanks to the
House Bill 2604 grant program administered by Texas A&M Forest Service.
Awarded just shy of $200,000, WVFD was able to replace a 1971 model pumper truck with an updated tanker.
“The new truck carries about 2,200 gallons of water,” Fire Chief Kenneth Cartwright said. “We have a lot of
rural area and our biggest issue is grass fires fueled by the salt grass that flourishes here. This tanker will help
serve as a grass truck.”
The VFD serves about 110 square miles, and also offers mutual aid for a nuclear plant, Oxea, and Big Boggy
National Wildlife Refuge.
“TFS is important to the volunteer fire departments because they not only offer grants for vehicles, but they
also offer gear and training,” Cartwright said. “I would recommend VFDs take advantage of all the programs
that they offer.”
Over 85 percent of fire departments in the state of Texas are either completely or mostly operated by
volunteers. 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.
To learn more about this program, visit http://texasfd.com.