COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Three Texas
fire departments were selected to receive more than $700,000 in grants from Texas
A&M Forest Service through the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual System on Oct.
19. This grant funding is enough to purchase three new wildland firefighting
vehicles.
“We are honored to provide the grant awards today. TIFMAS is and
has proven to be a tremendously valuable asset in times of crisis. As an
agency, it’s our goal to continue building partnerships with fire departments
throughout the state, so that we may effectively accomplish our shared mission
to protect life and property,” said Jason Keiningham Texas A&M Forest
Service Capacity Building department head.
The three fire departments receiving new firefighting vehicles from
the grants are Amarillo, McKinney and Round Rock. Notice of the awards have been
sent to each department. After official acceptance from the cities, the fire departments
will be able to receive the vehicles.
The TIFMAS program benefits participating career
fire departments by providing firefighting equipment, training and vehicles.
The fire departments maintain and mobilize this equipment to support statewide and
local emergency response to incidents when called to respond by the state.
“TIFMAS is a great program. I have had the chance to work with
TIFMAS resources on wildfires and have seen firsthand the impact they have in
the control of wildfires,” said Phillip Truitt, Texas A&M Forest Service
Communications Specialist.
The TIFMAS grant assistance program provides reimbursement grants
to Texas career fire departments. The program provides over $1 million in
grants annually to eligible fire departments. There is currently over $20
million in unfunded requests for this program.
To learn more about the TIFMAS program visit http://tfsweb.tamu.edu/TIFMAS/
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Contacts
Jason Keiningham, Department Head
979-458-7341, jkeiningham@tfs.tamu.edu
Texas A&M Forest Service Communications
979-458-6606, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu