![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/de4818d84f0f2b5564ac22018cbf7eb8.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\nSeveral rural volunteer fire departments in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains are getting an equipment boost thanks to new funding that was green-lighted by the 89th Texas Legislature to bolster local efforts to mitigate wildfires and other emergencies.<\/p>\n
On Oct. 14, the Texas A&M Forest Service approved $164 million through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program to award 558 fire trucks, 321 slip-on units and other equipment needs to volunteer fire departments throughout the state, including nearly 60 departments in the region.<\/p>\n
Established by HB 2604 in 2001, the program provides grants to rural volunteer fire departments for essential firefighting equipment and training and has awarded more than $500 million in grants throughout the years. This includes this week’s funding meeting, which marked the first phase in distributing more than $192 million to volunteer fire departments, following an appropriation approved by the 89th Texas Legislature funding requests submitted on or before Nov. 7, 2024, according to TAMFS.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Texas A&M Forest Service approved $164 million in funding through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program to help volunteer fire departments throughout the state Oct. 14.<\/p>\n
During the legislative session, the program was also appropriated around $88 million in base funding for the biennium (fiscal years 2026-27) to address ongoing needs for critical equipment at the local level.<\/p>\n
Texas uses a tiered approach to wildfire response, with local fire departments and counties being the first on the scene, followed by state agency support.<\/p>\n
\u201cTexas fire departments are the front line of local response, and their equipment capacity is vital to response time and effectiveness,\u201d said Al Davis, Texas A&M Forest Service Director. \u201cThis historic funding reflects the strong support of the Texas Legislature and governor. Their investment allows us to continue supporting and equipping firefighters who protect Texas\u2019 lives and property.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/6fc57819baf554ca89a1ac879317e2d6.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
The Texas A&M Forest Service approved $164 million in funding through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program to help volunteer fire departments throughout the state Oct. 14.<\/p>\n
Through this funding, local fire departments are able to increase their equipment capacity to respond to wildfires and a wide array of emergency incidents, including house fires and motor vehicle accidents. TAMFS said that additional funding for fire and rescue equipment, personal protective equipment, training aids and dry hydrants will be awarded over the coming months.<\/p>\n
Texas fire departments are eligible to apply for grants and assistance through FireConnect, a Texas A&M Forest Service database that provides a streamlined grant portal. The public and all Texas fire agencies can view the comprehensive directory, which also serves as a portal for fire units to submit incident reports.<\/p>\n
Recent local recipients include:<\/p>\n
Texas Panhandle<\/p>\n
Booker Volunteer Fire Department in Lipscomb County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Bovina Volunteer Fire Department in Parmer County: $265,000 for a Large Brush Truck<\/p>\n
Boys Ranch Fire\/Rescue in Oldham County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Cactus Fire Department in Moore County: $265,000 for a Large Brush Truck<\/p>\n
Canadian Volunteer Fire Department in Hemphill County: $265,000 for a Large Brush Truck<\/p>\n
Channing Volunteer Fire Department in Hartley County: $300,000 for a Water Tender and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Crutch Ranch Volunteer Fire Department in Hutchinson County: $165,000 for a Small Brush Truck<\/p>\n
Farwell Volunteer Fire Department in Parmer County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Follett Fire Department in Lipscomb County: $265,000 for a Large Brush Truck<\/p>\n
Fritch Volunteer Fire Department in Hutchinson County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Groom Volunteer Fire Department in Carson County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Higgins Volunteer Fire Department in Lipscomb County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Hoover Volunteer Fire Department in Gray County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Kress Volunteer Fire Department in Swisher County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Lefors Volunteer Fire Department in Gray County: $100,000 for a Large Truck Chassis<\/p>\n
Nazareth Volunteer Fire Department in Castro County: $300,000 for a Water Tender and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Palisades Volunteer Fire Department in Randall County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Quitaque Volunteer Fire Department in Briscoe County: $165,000 for a Small Brush Truck<\/p>\n
Samnorwood Volunteer Fire Department in Collingsworth County: $165,000 for a Small Brush Truck<\/p>\n
Silverton Volunteer Fire Department in Briscoe County: $265,000 for a Large Brush Truck<\/p>\n
Skellytown Volunteer Fire Department in Carson County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Texline Volunteer Fire Department in Dallam County: $300,000 for a Water Tender and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Timbercreek Canyon Village Fire Department in Randall County: $60,000 for a Small Truck Chassis<\/p>\n
Turkey Volunteer Fire Department in Hall County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Vega Fire Rescue in Oldham County: $265,000 for a Large Brush Truck<\/p>\n
Wayside Emergency Team in Armstrong County: $265,000 for a Large Brush Truck<\/p>\n
White Deer Volunteer Fire Department in Carson County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
South Plains<\/p>\n
Abernathy Volunteer Fire Department in Hale County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Amherst Volunteer Fire Department in Lamb County: $300,000 for a Water Tender and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Brownfield Fire and Rescue in Terry County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Buffalo Springs Lake Volunteer Fire Department in Lubbock County: $265,000 for a Large Brush Truck and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Edmonson Volunteer Fire Department in Hale County: $300,000 for a Water Tender and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Flomot Volunteer Fire Department in Motley County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Floydada Volunteer Fire Department in Floyd County: $300,000 for a Water Tender and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Halfway Volunteer Fire Department in Hale County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Idalou Volunteer Fire Depatment in Lubbock County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Lockney Volunteer Fire Department in Floyd County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Lorenzo Volunteer Fire Department in Crosby County: $165,000 for a Small Brush Truck and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Matador\/Motley County Volunteer Fire Department in Motley County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Meadow Volunteer Fire Department in Terry County: $300,000 for a Water Tender and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Morton Volunteer Fire Department in Cochran County: $300,000 for a Water Tender and and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
New Deal Fire\/EMS in Lubbock County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Olton Volunteer Fire and Rescue in Lamb County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department in Hale County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Plains Volunteer Fire Department in Yoakum County: $300,000 for a Water Tender and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Ransom Canyon Volunteer Fire Department in Lubbock County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Roosevelt Volunteer Fire Department in Lubbock County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Seagraves Volunteer Fire Department in Gaines County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Seminole Fire Department in Gaines County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Shallowater Fire Department in Lubbock County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Smyer Volunteer Fire Department in Hockley County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Springlake Volunteer Fire Department in Lamb County: $165,000 for a Small Brush Truck<\/p>\n
Spur Volunteer Fire Department in Dickens County: $300,000 for a Water Tender and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Sundown Volunteer Fire Department in Hockley County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Tahoka Volunteer Fire Department in Lynn County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
West Carlisle Volunteer Fire Department Inc. in Lubbock County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Wilson Volunteer Fire Department in Lynn County: $300,000 for a Water Tender<\/p>\n
Wolfforth Fire\/EMS in Lubbock County: $300,000 for a Water Tender and $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n
Woodrow Volunteer Fire Department in Lubbock County: $45,000 for a Slip-On Unit<\/p>\n