According to a report from KSST Radio, the Dike (TX) Volunteer Fire Department (DVFD) recently replaced its 1976 brush truck with a new custom-build brush truck with help from a cost-share grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (RVFDAP).
The DVFD received $100,000 from Texas A&M Forest Service during the RVFDAP’s 2020 funding cycle.
Brush trucks are designed specifically to fight grass fires by transporting firefighters, water, and other fire suppression equipment. The DVFD’s new custom-build brush truck features a 300-gallon water tank and ample storage areas for wildland tools. The truck is now in service and has already responded to several fires.
Texas A&M Forest Service helps protect lives and property through its RVFDAP, a cost-share program funded by the Texas State Legislature and administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service. The program provides funding to rural volunteer fire departments to help with the purchasing of firefighting vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, personal protective clothing, dry hydrants, computer systems, and firefighter training.
For more information on the programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.