Hart VFD acquires brush truck

  • Hart VFD recently received a grant enabling the department to acquire a 2022 Freightliner brush truck. Hart VFD is an intricate part of fire safety, not only in Hart, but in the county with Dimmitt VFD and Nazareth VFD being called out to grass fires, residence fires as well as answering calls to car and truck crashes.
    Hart VFD recently received a grant enabling the department to acquire a 2022 Freightliner brush truck. Hart VFD is an intricate part of fire safety, not only in Hart, but in the county with Dimmitt VFD and Nazareth VFD being called out to grass fires, residence fires as well as answering calls to car and truck crashes.
  • The Castro County Sheriff’s Office dispatch received four 911 calls reporting a major two-vehicle accident on Jan. 12. Then collision occurred on N Hwy. 385 next to the North Star Dairy. No injuries were reported. Vehicles involved were a blue 2018 GMC SUV driven by Jenifer Michelle Goforth, 43 of Amarillo, and a 2001 Peterbuilt semi-truck driven by Arnulfo Hernandez, 23 of Muleshoe. First responders included the Castro County Sheriff’s Office, AMR EMS, Dimmitt Fire Department; and TX DOT.
    The Castro County Sheriff’s Office dispatch received four 911 calls reporting a major two-vehicle accident on Jan. 12. Then collision occurred on N Hwy. 385 next to the North Star Dairy. No injuries were reported. Vehicles involved were a blue 2018 GMC SUV driven by Jenifer Michelle Goforth, 43 of Amarillo, and a 2001 Peterbuilt semi-truck driven by Arnulfo Hernandez, 23 of Muleshoe. First responders included the Castro County Sheriff’s Office, AMR EMS, Dimmitt Fire Department; and TX DOT.

The Hart Volunteer Fire Department of Castro County received a $220,000 grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program to purchase a large brush truck.

The 2022 Freightliner has a 1,500-gallon tank.

The primary function of the brush truck will be to fight brush fires, and to provide mutual aid assistance to departments in surrounding counties. It will also be used in structure fires outside of city limits and will allow more personnel to work on putting out fires.

Hart VFD offered thanks to the community of Hart, Castro County and the Texas A&M Forest Service.

“This grant would not have happened without the support of everyone around us,” said George Chapa, Hart VFD Assistant Chief.

Hart VFD is currently recruiting members that will be dedicated and willing to serve and protect their community.

In rural counties like Castro, having volunteer fire departments truly shows how its citizens take responsibility for themselves and put their neighbors’ safety first. Castro County is fortunate to have three volunteer fire departments in Hart, Dimmitt and Nazareth.

However, without a solid budget, these volunteer fire departments have to raise their own funding and rely on grants throughout the year to keep operating. Even working with various towns and cities, as well as local businesses and other donors, these volunteer fire departments need support to continue and has never been more important than in the current economic climate. Rising prices affect the operational needs of volunteers as well!

As a member agency of the Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M Forest Service administers the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program and is committed to protecting lives, property and natural resources. The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program is funded by the Texas Legislature and provides cost-share funding to rural volunteer fire departments for the acquisition of firefighting vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing, dry hydrants, computer systems and firefighter training.

For more information on programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, visit texasfd.com.