Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program Grant Helps Dike VFD Fund New Custom-Build Brush Truck
DIKE, Texas – Dike Volunteer Fire Department recently replaced a 1976 brush truck with a new custom-build brush truck thanks to a cost share grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. Dike VFD received $100,000 from Texas A&M Forest Service during the RVFDAP 2020 funding cycle. Dike VFD Chief A.G.Sandifeer, Assistant Chief, Firefighter Joel Pace, Jack Towers, and Texas A&M Forest Service Regional...
Texas A&M Forest Service Awards $15.7 Million in Grants to Volunteer Fire Departments
October 31, 2023 – COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M Forest Service awarded 260 rural volunteer fire departments with more than $15.7 million in assistance grants last week through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Grant Program. “Our agency is very thankful to state leadership for allowing us the opportunity to assist volunteer fire departments in Texas,” said Jason Keiningham, Texas A&M Forest Service...
Grant Program Offers Boost As Rural Fire Departments Battle Recruitment Challenges
Grant program offers boost as rural fire departments battle recruitment challenges The US Forest Service is providing grants to help rural volunteer fire departments across the country. The Texas A&M Forest Service is helping to get information out to those departments to help the small departments use the funds to provide services to the small communities. The Plantersville-Stoneham Volunteer Fire Department sits across from the...
Tasers, Fire Alarm Systems, Rail Rep Approved By Commissioners Court
Fire alarm systems, Tasers, maintenance guidelines, county road standards and procedures, a management provider for a hazardous mitigation grant program, and a Northeast Texas Rural Transportation board appointment were among the items Hopkins County Commissioner Court approved during their regular meeting Monday. Hopkins County Commissioner Court approved a request for Neal Barker to serve on Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation...
“Updated” Fire at Toliver Ford
An early morning three alarm fire at Brian Toliver Ford, 1040 Gilmer Street destroyed the service department and did at least 80% damage to the showroom and office area. Fire Chief Eric Hill said all city fire stations and five rural volunteer fire departments responded placing approximately 35 firemen into the fight. When firemen first arrived, the blaze was at least 30-minutes to an hour old forcing a defensive stance for the first...
North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department Benefits from Forest Service Grant
With over 85 percent of Texas fire departments being operated by volunteers, funding for essential equipment and training can be hard to come by. The Texas Legislature allocates funding to Texas A&M Forest Service for pass-through grants to Texas volunteer fire departments in an effort to help them better protect lives and property. This year the agency received $24.3 million to distribute to volunteer fire departments through the...
Pickton-Pine Forest VFD Adds Brush Truck To Fleet
PICKTON, Texas – Pickton-Pine Forest Volunteer Fire Department increased their fleet thanks to a $99,723 Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance cost-share grant administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. “The new apparatus has four-wheel-drive, a 300-gallon water tank, foam capability, bumper spray nozzle and electric hose reel,” said Fire Chief Trey Thompson. “It is built for wildland firefighting but can also be used...
Sulphur Springs Collaborating On Communications Grant Application
City Affirms Support of Ark-Tex, East Texas COGS’ Application For US EDA Build Back Better Challenge Grant Funding Sulphur Springs City Council this week approved two resolutions authorizing city staff to collaborate with other agencies in the county and across Northeast Texas in applying for regional grant funding during Tuesday evening’s meeting. AFG Communications Grant Resolution No. 1236 allows the city to join...
Crain Reports No Problems Noted In County Audit
HVAC Units For Courthouse, Building Consulting Services, Donations, Agreement with City Approved By Commissioners Court Lewis Crain of Rutherford, Crain & Company, PC, when presenting the audit during the April 12, 2021 Hopkins County Commissioners Court, say despite a strange year, Hopkins County’s financials look good as far as the annual independent review. Crain repors the biggest change in revenues between the 2018-19...
Commissioners Approve Agreements With 5 VFDs, FEMA Hazardous Mitigation Grant Project Documents
Fire protection agreements for five of the county’s volunteer fire departments, resolutions and agreements regarding FEMA Hazardous Mitigation Projects, a resolution in support of the Second Amendment and Article 1 Section 23 of Texas Constitution, and a budget amendment for Precinct 2 receive approval of Hopkins County Commissioners Court at their regular meeting Monday. Hopkins County Commissioners Court Fire Protection...
