Eola Volunteer Fire Department Received Military Surplus Vehicle

The Eola Volunteer Fire Department received a military surplus vehicle through the Department of Defense (DoD) Firefighter Property Program administered by Texas A&M Forest Service, said a press release Tuesday.

“This new addition is excellent for the department’s service area, which is on the west side of Concho country,” said Eola VFD Fire Chief Jeff Rutledge. “We can move around a lot easier because it gives us a better ground clearance, and the tires can be deflated to enable better maneuvering over the rocks and hilly areas.”

The vehicle replaces an older truck and will play a vital role in the department’s ability to respond to emergencies, said the release.

Per guidelines of the program, the truck must be painted a nonmilitary color. The department also added a platform to hold the pump and 1,000 gallon poly tank.

According to the press release, the DoD Firefighter Property Program, a program managed nationwide by the USDA Forest Service, provides excess military equipment to fire departments and emergency service providers. Launched in Texas in 2005, this program has released over 350 retired military trucks to VFDs across the state to help them better protect lives and property. Texas A&M Forest Service picks up the vehicle from a military installation, performs necessary repairs and delivers it to the Volunteer Fire Department at no cost to them.

To learn more about this program, visit texasfd.com.