Douglassville VFD celebrates new large brush truck

DOUGLASSVILLE, Texas — Douglassville Volunteer Fire Department received a

$219,000 grant through the Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. The grant was used to purchase a large brush truck for the department.

To celebrate the new addition, the department held a check presentation at the fire station in Cass County on Friday. A staff member from State Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s office, Jason Keiningham, Texas A&M Forest Service Capacity Building Department Head and numerous Texas A&M Forest Service representatives attended.

“I would like to congratulate the Douglasville Volunteer Fire Department for receiving the grant award to provide a large brush truck to the department. I would also like to thank Texas A&M Forest Service for its work to make this award possible. The addition of this brush truck to the fleet will pay dividends for decades to come by providing enhanced ability to protect property and possibly save the lives of the citizens of this area,” said VanDeaver.

Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Cody Mayo has been the point of contact with the department. “Approximately 70 percent of Texas fire service is filled by volunteer fire departments.

Douglasville VFD is one of those departments and is made up of a small group of volunteers who have servant hearts for their community and surrounding county.

Having this new truck in their fleet will help them as they serve by increasing the department’s firefighting capacity,” said Mayo.

“We are very thankful to Texas A&M Forest Service and the taxpayers of Texas for this new truck.

With this new apparatus, we will be able to respond to any call within the community. It is a multipurpose truck capable of fulfilling every need the department has,” said Alfred Point, Douglassville VFD Fire Chief.

As a member agency of the Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M Forest Service administers the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program and is committed to protecting lives, property and natural resources. The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program is funded by the Texas 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, visit texasfd.com.