Texas fire dept. gets wildland fire vehicle through grant

By Linda Stewart
The Times Record News

VERNON, Texas — A fully equipped 2011 Ford F550 that arrived at the Vernon Fire Department recently is one of eight firefighting vehicles that are part of a grant program administered through the Texas Forest Service.

More than $800,000 worth of equipment designed to fight wildland fires has been awarded as part of a long-term plan to develop the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System resources across the state.

The TIFMAS grant program was created in the 2009 Legislature under Senate Bill 1011. It is maintained by the Texas Forest Service. The program is a collaborative effort of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association, the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas, the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters, the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the Texas Forest Service.

TIFMAS offers training, equipment and vehicle grants creating standards and mobilization systems to make statewide use of local resources.

The Type VI engines were built at Siddons Fire Apparatus in San Antonio. Other departments receiving the $100,000 trucks are Borger, Midland, Weatherford, Travis County, Pharr, Lufkin and Galveston. Eight other Texas cities received similar vehicles through the grant program in February.

Fire Chief Kent Smead said the new fire engine holds 400 gallons of water and is equipped with a ClassAfoamsystem. Itwill pump 200 gallons per minute. The truck came with shovels, hoses and all the equipment needed to fight wildland fires.

Copyright 2011 Wichita Falls Times Record News
All Rights Reserved