Grant helps Pottsboro replace a 1996 rig

Texas A&M Forest Service

Herald Democrat

(MCT)

Pottsboro Fire Department acquired a new 2021 Freightliner pumper/tender thanks to a $200,000 cost share grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.

A tender is a firefighting apparatus that transports water from a source to a fire scene. It has the capacity to carry 1,500 gallons of water and has a 10-inch dump valve that can rapidly fill a drop tank that is designed to hold 2,500 gallons of water, assisting with rural firefighting or response in remote locations.

“This truck is replacing a 1996 apparatus that only carried 1,000 gallons of water,” said Pottsboro Fire Chief Donnie Glenn. “The increased water quantity will give us more time on the fire ground and extra water on the fire.”

The department’s response area is largely rural without fire hydrants and they also serve the Lake Texoma area during times of automatic aid with Preston and Locust Fire Departments.

“The truck can also be used to fill brush trucks when fighting wildland fires and is equipped with extra scene lighting that is very beneficial when responding to fires at night,” said Glenn.

Pottsboro Fire Department has been serving their community since 1946 and has a 42-square-mile response area.

“Our department is grateful to Texas A&M Forest Service for the grant programs that help update firefighting equipment and apparatus across the state, improving capacity and safety for firefighters,” said Glenn.

Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, a cost share program funded by Texas State Legislature and administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. This program provides 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, please visit http://texasfd.com.

This article originally appeared on Herald Democrat: Pottsboro Fire Department acquires new first-out pumper/tender

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Byesville replaces one old squad with
two new ones

Kristi R. Garabrandt, The Daily Jeffersonian, Cambridge, Ohio

(MCT)

Feb. 2—The Byesville Volunteer Fire Department is in the process of replacing an older rescue squad with two newer ones. The $56,000 cost is covered by the CARES Act funding.

Noah Bacon, assistant fire chief and firefighter, said there is a definitely need in the community for the addition of a second rescue squad to the department’s fleet.

In 2020, the department made 406 runs with the one squad, most of those were local Byesville calls.

The department started handling squad calls when they added the first rescue squad in October 2019. During the first few months of having the vehicle they provided only first response services.

“When we did only first response for three months, we did 186 calls in those three months,” Bacon said.

The 2010 squad purchased in 2019 will be traded towards the two newer 2014 squads.

According to Bacon, one of the advantages of the second squad is that it has four wheel drive and currently there are only three squads in the county with that capability. He noted that feature will be an asset for getting around in the winter.

Both squads can be used to provide mutual aide to surrounding communities.

The first squad, Medic 101, was put in service on Jan. 22. The second squad medic 106 is expected to be in service once the paperwork is done and supplies arrive. This should happen within the next week or two.

The squads are staffed by EMTs and volunteer firefighters who can provide basic care.

The department recently held a first responders course to train firefighters who are not certified EMTs. Additionally, the department is looking for EMTs and will provided qualified applicants with the training to become certified.

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