Cason VFD upgrades firefighting capabilities

Cason Volunteer Fire Department recently received aid from two assistance programs administered by Texas A&M Forest Service.

The department received an excess military vehicle, a Bowen-McLaughlin-York five-ton transport truck, from the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program.

A requirement of the program is that the department turn the military vehicle into a fire-fighting apparatus within 180 days of acquisition.

“We painted the truck and did some other repairs like moving the red line reel down behind the cab so a fire-fighter doesn’t have to be on top of the truck to reach the line,” said Jerry Ragsdell, Cason VFD Chief. “Being able to reach the line from the ground is a safety issue and safety is a priority with our department.”

In addition to the military truck, the department also received a grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. The grant was used to fund a slip-on unit for the back of the truck.

A slip-on unit is a complete, self-contained firefighting apparatus designed for a pick-up truck or custom-built vehicle platforms. It is intended to become a fast, initial attack fire-fighting component used for wildland fire-fighting, structure and automobile fires. The truck could also be utilized for high-water rescue when needed due to the height.

“It will be a benefit to our department because it will carry a large amount of water and can add foam which blankets the fuel and helps better suppress the fire,” Ragsdell said. “Having a heavy-duty brush truck will give us an advantage when fighting grass fires and being able to have so much water will be a big benefit."

Cason VFD, established in 1950, has 12 volunteers that serve a population of approximately 1,500 people over 28 square miles of Morris County.

Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through its various fire department assistance programs. For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.