BEAUMONT, Texas — Four Southeast Texas volunteer fire departments will benefit from $70k in grants awarded by the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
The Texas A&M Forest Service concluded the second of three funding meetings of fiscal year 2024 by awarding 74 grants totaling to about $1.3 million. Recipients of those grants included some Southeast Texas volunteer fire departments.
Four departments in Southeast Texas received funds:
- Hardin County ESD #5 Station 1: $20,000 for equipment
- Livingston VFD: $10,000 for training aids
- Onalaska VFD: 20,000 for protective equipment
- South Polk VFD & ACE: 20,000 for protective equipment
The grants will help the rural fire departments purchase essential equipment and training aids needed to help protect life and property.
“We work diligently to utilize all available program funds to assist fire departments in acquiring the necessary equipment and training to allow them to better protect life and property across the state of Texas,” said Jason Keiningham, Texas A&M Forest Service Capacity Building Department Head. “We’re proud to do everything in our power to help our partners in the fire service.”
Fire departments can apply for grants on the Texas A&M Forest Service's FireConnect website. If approved, the grant will be distributed through their online website.
The final funding meeting for fiscal year 2024 is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024.
The Rural VFD Assistance Program was launched in 2001 and has awarded over $350 million to volunteer fire departments in Texas since its inception.
The Texas Legislature has allocated approximately $22 million to the Texas A&M Forest Service for the fiscal year 2024 to award rural VFDs, according to a release.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
