Buckholts VFD receives grant for new truck
The Buckholts Volunteer Fire Department has a lot to be excited about.
The department recently unveiled its first pumper truck in its history.
With the help of The Town of Buckholts City Council, the Buckholts Volunteer Fire Department qualified to apply for a TxCDBG Fire, Ambulance, and Service Truck (FAST) fund grant provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture in July of 2019.
Members of the department were on hand for the Milam County Fire Chiefs meeting on Nov. 18 in Cameron to give all in attendance a look at the new truck.
Firefighter Cody Horelica said that after numerous hours of research and seeking quotes for a variety of equipment and firefighting apparatus, the fire department applied for a pumper/tanker truck, self-contained breathing apparatus, and a battery powered combination rescue tool.
The Town of Buckholts was awarded the FAST grant for an amount just under $500,000 only a few months later in October 2019.
Horelica said the BVFD worked hand-and-hand with the Town of Buckholts City Council and were able to purchase a custom built 2021 Freightliner Pumper/Tanker Trunk designed by the members of the BVFD, a battery-powered combination rescue tool (jaws of life), and five self-contained breathing apparatus for structural firefighting.
The addition of the new pumper truck will allow the department the ability to not only further their knowledge in the firefighting industry, but will also advance their firefighting capabilities to a much higher level than they have been able to do in the past.
The truck will be able to carry all of the additional equipment received in the grant, along with a wide variety of other equipment.
“The department would like to thank all of the citizens in the Buckholts community, and a very special thank you to the Town of Buckholts City Council for all of their dedicated work to help make this possible for It’s local Volunteer Fire Department,” Horelica said.
The department currently has 12 members. Horelica said the truck will also be used to assist other area fire departments on mutual aid calls.