CHICO, Texas – Wise County Sand Flat Fire Department now has immediate access to 800 gallons of water
thanks to a $200,000 cost share grant through the Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire
Department Assistance Program.
“The primary mission of this new truck will be to extinguish brush fires as well as shuttle water to other fire
trucks,” said Wise County Sand Flat FD Fire Chief Andy Sabo. “The truck will enable our department to get
water to remote locations faster and extinguish the fire more rapidly.”
The 2021 Freightliner’s remote controlled bumper monitor also gives the department the option to fight fire
at a safer distance while delivering a high-capacity stream of water.
“Firefighters rely on their water supply to be able to fight fire quickly and effectively,” said Texas A&M
Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Sam Bundy. “This new truck will help strengthen the department’s
firefighting capacity by having a larger quantity of water when arriving at the scene of a fire.”
Wise County Sand Flat Fire Department has been serving as a volunteer department supported by their
community since 2001 and has open enrollment for volunteers.
“Anyone interested in volunteering for our department may email [email protected],” said Sabo.
“There are many opportunities to get involved, not just firefighting.”
Fire Chief Sabo and the department members offer a note of appreciation.
“Our department would like to thank the members of our community as well as Texas A&M Forest Service
for their continued support,” said Sabo.
Texas A&M Forest Service is an agency operating within the Texas A&M University System and as the
Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program administrator is committed to protecting lives,
property and natural resources. The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program is funded by Texas
State Legislature and provides cost share funding to rural volunteer fire departments 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.