The Texas A&M Forest Service conducted the first funding meeting for FY 2026 on Oct. 14 and awarded approximately $164 million in grants to Texas volunteer fire departments, which included 558 fire trucks and 321 slip-on units through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (RVFDAP).
In Lamb County, the Amherst VFD was awarded $300,000 for a water tender and $45,000 for a slip-on unit; Olton VFD received $45,000 for a slipon unit; and Springlake VFD received $165,000 for a small brush truck.
According to the press release, all departments awarded a grant have received official written notice of approval with application statuses also updated in FireConnect.
“Texas fire departments are the front line of local response, and their equipment capacity is vital to response time and effectiveness,” said Al Davis, Texas A&M Forest Service Director. “This historic funding reflects the strong support of the Texas Legislature and governor. Their investment allows us to continue supporting and equipping firefighters who protect Texas’ lives and property.”
The equipment to be received by the three Lamb County fire departments is critical for fighting fires in rural areas and particularly with wildfires prevalent at various times of the year.
A water tender is a specialized fire department vehicle that acts as a mobile water supply, carrying large volumes of water to a fire scene where hydrants are unavailable or inadequate and are are crucial for rural and wildland firefighting because they shuttle water to the fire engines that are directly fighting the fire, ensuring a continuous water supply.
A slip-on unit for fire departments is a self-contained, compact firefighting system with a tank and pump that can be loaded onto a truck bed, utility vehicle (UTV), or all-terrain vehicle (ATV). These units are versatile and cost-effective, turning standard vehicles into effective fire suppression tools for situations like structural fires or wildland brush fires.
A small brush truck is a specialized, off-road vehicle designed to fight wildfires in hard-to-reach areas that larger fire engines cannot access and are typically built on a four-wheel-drive chassis and are equipped with a water tank, a pump, hoses, and tools to put out fires and clear debris. They are effective for initial attack, patrol, and mop-up operations.
The RVFDAP was established by Texas House Bill 2604 in 2001 to provide grants to rural volunteer fire departments for essential firefighting equipment and training. Since its onset, the program has awarded over $500 million in grants to Texas fire departments, including today’s funding meeting.
The meeting marked the largest allocation of awards and the first phase in distributing over $192 million to Texas volunteer fire departments, following an appropriation approved by the 89th Texas Legislature for departments that submitted funding requests on or before Nov. 7, 2024.
Texas uses a tiered approach to wildfire response, establishing local fire departments and counties as the first on the scene. State response is activated as wildfires become more complex and grow beyond the capacity of local first responders.
During the legislative session, this program was also appropriated approximately $88 million in base funding for the biennium (fiscal years 2026-27)—the most ever allocated—to address ongoing needs for critical equipment at the local level.
Additional funding for fire and rescue equipment, personal protective equipment, training aids and dry hydrants will be awarded to Texas fire departments on a rolling basis across the next several months.