McAdoo Volunteer Fire Department purchased a 2017, F550 small brush truck with funding received from the Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. The $100,000 cost share grant made it possible for the department to replace two older, less reliable trucks with an up-to-date wildland vehicle.
"The majority of our 551-square-mile protection area is ranch or farm land," said Assistant Fire Chief Dusty Harris. "Ninety-percent of the fires that we respond to are in very rough terrain. This factory-built truck will be more dependable with greater firefighting capability."
The truck is equipped with a 500-gallon water tank, 10-gallon foam tank, remote controlled front bumper monitor, wench and behind the cab cross walk.
The combination of the water with the foam helps to increase the efficiency of the water, almost doubling its effectiveness.