Battle Creek, Mich. –
A military cargo truck declared excess now serves Texas’ Pecan Grove Volunteer Fire as a multi-purpose response vehicle thanks to the DOD Firefighter Property Program and Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services.
The DOD FPP has cross-government benefits. Property transfer from DOD to federal recipients helps DLA Disposition Services find new uses for excess military equipment. It helps the U.S. Forest Service manage fire activity across the country by making the equipment available to state governments. State agencies benefit their local populations by issuing gear to rural fire departments to protect districts and counties.
Pecan Grove FD Assistant Chief Billy Hoft said when his department received the truck, the crew immediately began customizing it for their needs. He explained how the truck will serve in a variety of ways.
“We have a need for a high-water vehicle, as our aera is prone to flooding during hurricane season,” Hoft said. The department purchased a canvas top to cover the truck’s bed and create shelter for first responders and people they are transporting to safety during inclement weather. Then, during wildfire season, Hoft said the team would fit it with a water tank and use the truck to fight wildland blazes.
Pecan Grove FD covers the densely populated community of Richmond, Hoft said, with additional responsibility for grassland and farms that edge the district.
“I believe it will have a huge impact on us, both from a rescue standpoint and a wildland firefighting standpoint,” Hoft said. “It will also positively impact the mutual aid districts we work with.”
Hoft said DOD FPP works great for volunteer departments that can’t afford expensive apparatus. He called it a vital source for departments like his to customize equipment to fit their needs and provide them the tools needed to protect their communities.