Wells VFD Purchases New Truck Thanks to A&M Forest Service Grant

A grant of nearly $120,000 from the Texas A&M Forest Service recently enabled the Wells Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) to purchase a new small brush truck. 

According to a press release from the Forest Service, Wells VFD has an 88 square mile service area and 90 percent of their calls are for woodland or grass fires. This new 2016 Ford F-150 with slip-on unit will allow them to effectively protect life and property in the community and surrounding area.

“The new truck is replacing a 1985 brush truck,” said Wells VFD fire Chief Robert Kalka.

“The unit has a Compressed Air Foam System with a 300-gallon water tank and 10 gallon foam tank. It uses compressed air which will allow the foam to put out fires more efficiently and gives better coverage of the surface area compared to the regular foam system."

"This brush truck will help increase Wells VFD’s capacity to respond to emergencies in their response area and assist their neighboring departments,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Fire Coordinator Nathan Carroll.

While serving under Texas A&M AgriLife, Texas A&M Forest Service works with fire service cooperators throughout the state to minimize the loss of life and property in response to wildfires and other all-hazard emergencies. This year Texas A&M Forest Service is set to award approximately $24.3 million in grants to volunteer fire departments for the purchase of equipment and training.