Brush truck finds home in Moran fire dept. fleet
The City of Moran Volunteer Fire Department recently converted a 2.5-ton Stewart Stevenson into a firefighting machine.
The truck was given through the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program and a $20,000 grant for a slip-on unit was awarded through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. Both programs are administered by Texas A&M Forest Service.
“We transformed this surplus military vehicle for the sole purpose of wildland firefighting, but it has proven to be a multipurpose apparatus that is also valuable for house fires and severe weather rescues,” said Moran mayor and Moran VFD fire chief Steven Taggart. “We have used the truck on several calls including a mobile home fire and a rural fire that was caused by an electrical line.”
A stipulation for receiving the truck was to paint it a non-military color within 180 days of acquisition. Taggart painted the truck, and an outside source added a slip-on unit with a 500-gallon water tank.
“Obtaining these vehicles is such a benefit to volunteer fire departments,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Tyler Brown. “We work very closely with the department to fight wildfires in the area, and by facilitating upgrades and additions to their fleet, especially an increase in water capacity, we are collectively able to fight fire more effectively.”
The department depends on local participation in their fund-raising efforts to help with their daily operating costs. This alliance between community and the department helps the volunteers have what they need to protect and better serve their area.
“We are grateful to our community for their support that helped with the cost of paint for the truck conversion and then the addition of lights and a radio and also to Texas A&M Forest Service for making these types of rugged trucks available to volunteer fire departments at no cost other than the conversion,” said Taggart.
The City of Moran Volunteer Fire Department has open enrollment for volunteers.
“As a volunteer department we work as a team to make a difference in our community,” said Taggart. “Anyone wishing to join the department can leave a message at City Hall, (325) 945-3441.”
The Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program launched in Texas in 2005, is one such program and has released over 800 retired military trucks to Volunteer Fire Departments across the state. The Agency transports the vehicle from a military installation, performs necessary repairs and delivers it to the volunteer fire department at no cost to them.
