HOOKS, Texas – Thanks to a historic investment by the 89th Texas Legislature, the Texas A&M Forest Service has approved more than $164 million in funding to hundreds of volunteer fire departments across the state.
Hooks Volunteer Fire Department was one of seven fire stations in Bowie County to receive a portion of the grant funds. The multi-million-dollar state grants will benefit nearly 900 fire departments across the Lone Star State. Hooks Volunteer Fire Department will use its portion to purchase a new water tank truck and slip-on unit.
Fire Chief Brandon Whitehurst says seven out of the 11 volunteer fire departments in Bowie County are receiving about $1.7 million in grant funds.
“The increased funding that we receive will help us provide better equipment to not only our firefighters, but our community,” said Whitehurst.
The state funding is set to go toward 558 fire trucks and 321 slip-on units for Texas volunteer fire departments.
“It is very expensive to maintain this apparatus. It’s very expensive to ensure that you have good equipment to do your job and for them to understand that fire departments all over the state need help is very big,” said Whitehurst.
In just the last five years, the number of calls per year has gone up from 300 to 700, Whitehurst said.
With the volume of calls and the cost of operations increasing, he says the state grant funds are much needed.
“With today’s fires is burning hotter and faster, having better equipment and the capability to carry more water will definitely increase the safety in our community and our safety,” explained Whitehurst.
The grants are part of a Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, which was established in 2001.
The other grant recipients in Bowie County include Pleasant Grove, Liberty Eylau, Wake Village, Redwater, Simms and the C-5 volunteer fire department.
Since 2001, the state has awarded more than $500 million in grant funds to volunteer fire departments.