12-03-2025
Texas A&M Forest Service rewards grants to local volunteer fire departments
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Texas A&M Forest Service awarded five fire departments across Texoma with grants through their Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
During a funding meeting for the program, 94 grants totaling $2.1 million were awarded to volunteer fire departments from around the state.
Those affected in Texoma were:
Charlie-Thornberry VFD in Clay County received $25,000 to use for personal protective equipment.
Forestburg VFD in Montague County received $25,000 to use for personal protective equipment.
Holliday Volunteer Fire & Rescue in Archer County received $10,000 for training aids.
Newcastle VFD in Young County received $25,000 to use for personal protective equipment.
Saint Jo Volunteer Fire/EMS received $25,000 to use for personal protective equipment.
The Rural VFD Assistance Program launched in 2001 and has awared more than $380 million to volunteer fire departs across the state. Texas A&M Forest Service Capacity Building Department Head Jason Keiningham said local fire departments are the first to respond to wildfires and diverse emergencias and this program helps keep them strong.
'Through the Rural VFD Assistance Program, we do everything we can to ensure that their firefighting capacity is strong by helping them purchase necessary equipment,' Keiningham said. 'This increases the ability of fire departments across the state to fight wildland fires, cooperate on different types of incidents and aid other states in times of need.'
The next funding meeting for the Rural VFD Assistance Program is tentatively scheduled to be held Aug. 6, 2025.
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