FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2017
PORT ARANSAS, Texas — Port Aransas Fire Department is
set to receive a fire truck on loan from Texas A&M Forest Service on
Friday, Sept. 29 to temporarily replace one damaged by Hurricane Harvey.
Hurricane Harvey devastated the Port Aransas Fire Department
leaving it with many fire trucks damaged and many of the firefighters have been
dealing with damage to their own homes. An interdepartmental team of
firefighters from the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System has been on duty
in Port Aransas assisting with local firefighting duties, until Port Aransas
Fire Department gets back on their feet.
Today, through an emergency vehicle loan, Texas A&M
Forest Service is delivering a state owned fire truck to the Port Aransas Fire
Department.
The fire truck was acquired though the Department of
Defense Firefighter Property Program and is kept on hand to be used in
situations when fire departments suffer catastrophic equipment loss. The truck
will help the fire department service the community until permanent equipment
is in place.
“I am grateful
to the men and women from Texas A&M Forest Service who have worked
tirelessly to assist our city in rebuilding our fire department,” said Port
Aransas Mayor Charles Bujan. “We are extremely humbled by their generosity. This
truck is an essential piece of equipment that our firefighters require to
protect the citizens.”
Statewide 145 fire apparatus have been confirmed as
damaged or destroyed. Twenty-four fire stations were completely destroyed and
hundreds more have wind and water damage. Hundreds of sets of protective
clothing, and pieces of equipment here damaged while responding to calls for
assistance during the disaster.
“It is our goal to help restore fire protection for
the communities devastated by Harvey,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief
Mark Stanford.
The Department of Defense Firefighter Property
Program, overseen 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 500 retired military trucks to
volunteer fire departments across the state to help them better protect lives
and property. Texas A&M Forest Service transports the vehicle from a
military installation, performs necessary repairs and delivers it to the
volunteer fire department at no cost to them.
For more information on programs fire department assistance
programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit tfsweb.tamu.edu.
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Media is invited to view the fire truck and speak with
local officials. Please contact Irma Parker at 361-749-4111
Contacts
Phillip
Truitt, Public Information Officer, ptruitt@tfs.tamu.edu , 979-255-0591
Texas
A&M Forest Service Communications, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu,
979-458-6606