Texas A&M Forest Service to award $164 million to volunteer fire departments across the state

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M Forest Service will award more than $164 million to volunteer fire departments across the state during a funding meeting Tuesday morning in College Station.

The funding, part of the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, will help departments purchase fire trucks and slip-on units. The upcoming meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at the Texas A&M Forest Service Headquarters, 200 Technology Way, Room 1105.

The assistance program, created by House Bill 2604 in 2001, provides grants for equipment and training to rural volunteer fire departments. Since its launch, more than $500 million in grants have been distributed statewide.

During the 89th Texas legislative session, lawmakers approved a historic one-time appropriation of $192 million to ad