Newcastle, Murray VFDs awarded TAMFS grants
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(FILE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Members of the Murray Volunteer Fire Department control a fire on FM 3109 which broke out Sunday, July 30 in Young County and threatened structures. The department was recently awarded grants from Texas A&M Forest Service. -
(FILE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Members of the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department control a fire on FM 3109 which broke out Sunday, July 30 in Young County and threatened structures. The department was recently awarded a grant from Texas A&M Forest Service.
Newcastle and Murray Volunteer Fire Departments are two of 260 volunteer departments to receive grant funding through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Grant Program from Texas A&M Forest Service.
More than $15.7 million in assistance grants were awarded at the end of October to reimburse rural volunteer fire departments for equipment purchases which include fire trucks, training aids, slip-ons and chassis.
“Our agency is very thankful to state leadership for allowing us the opportunity to assist volunteer fire departments in Texas,” Texas A&M Forest Service Capacity Building Department Head Jason Keiningham said. “Without question, volunteer fire departments in Texas are among the best in the nation, and they make a huge difference in the lives of people on their worst days.”
NFVD was approved for a $20,000 grant to be used for fire and rescue equipment. MVFD was approved for two grants: a $100,000 grant for a large truck chassis and a $20,000 grant for a slip-on unit.
Since the Texas Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program was started in 2002 it has allocated more than $336 million to rural volunteer fire departments.
From Sunday, Jan. 1 through Thursday, Nov. 2, fire departments across the state have reported a cost of $2,146,944.01 for wildfire suppression, according to TAMFS.
In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2604 which established the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. The program assists volunteer fire departments with the purchase of equipment and training.
TAMFS held its first funding meeting Monday, Oct. 23 and awarded grants to departments across the state. All departments which were awarded a grant received official written and email notice of approval.
The grants are applied for and released through TAMFS’ recently released FireConnect tool.
Volunteer fire departments can apply for future grants online at fireconnect.tfs.tamu.edu/Home/Index.
The next funding meeting for TAMDS is tentatively scheduled for March 6, 2024.
