$164 Million to the Rescue: Texas Volunteer Fire Departments Just Got a Major Upgrade

Great news for struggling small town volunteer fire departments!

The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program Offers a Lifeline

The Texas A&M Forest Service is awarding $164 million in funding for rural fire departments across the state. According to KCEN, the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program money will fund items needed by local departments to protect their communities. The monetary awards will cover 558 fire trucks and 321 slip-on units. A slip-on unit is a self-contained firefighting system that can be easily loaded onto vehicles other than fire trucks. Many volunteer fire departments only have one truck.

The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program’s History

The program originated in 2001 as part of Texas House Bill 2604. According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the money awarded by the program is used to purchase essential firefighting equipment and training. As of this year, over $500 million in grants have been awarded. The amount awarded this year is the largest allocation since the beginning of the program.

Central Texas VFDs are Among the Funding Recipients

According to the Forest Service, there are many volunteer departments in our area receiving monetary awards. Many Central Texas fire departments are among those to receive funding through the program. The complete list can be found by clicking on this link.

Wildfires in Texas

It is hard to believe that it has been a year since the largest wildfire in Texas history erupted in the Texas panhandle. The Smokehouse Creek Fire broke out on February 26, 2024. According to the Texas Farm Bureau, when all was said and done, over one million acres had burned across six counties. Firefighters worked more than three weeks to get the fire under control.