In 2001, state lawmakers passed legislation providing money for volunteer fire departments to buy vehicles and equipment and to pay for training.
The Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) this week (October 14) announced awarding 879 grants totaling $164 million dollars.
More than $9.2 million is going towards 46 grants to 40 volunteer fire departments in Brazos and all seven surrounding counties.
Click HERE to read and download the Texas A&M Forest Service list of all grant recipients.
The Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) announced 10/14/2025 that 40 rural volunteer fire departments in Brazos and all seven surrounding counties received a combined 46 grants totaling more tha nine million dollars. The money will go towards firefighting vehicles and related equipment.
This is part of the first TFS funding cycle for the 2026 fiscal year. Statewide in this first cycle, TFS awarded 879 grants totaling $164 million dollars.
BRAZOS COUNTY RECIPIENTS (three grants totaling $645,000 dollars):
Brazos County District 2 Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Brazos County Precinct 3 Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
South Brazos County Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
BURLESON COUNTY RECIPIENTS (seven grants totaling $1.635 million dollars):
Beaver Creek Volunteer Fire Department Small Brush Truck $165,000
Birch Creek Area Volunteer Fire Department Large Brush Truck $265,000
Black Jack Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Cooks Point Volunteer Fire Department Large Brush Truck $265,000
Deanville Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Snook Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Somerville Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
ROBERTSON COUNTY RECIPIENTS (11 grants totaling $2.025 million dollars):
Blackjack Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Blackjack Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
Calvert Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Easterly Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Franklin Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
Hearne Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Hearne Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
Seale Round Prairie Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Seale Round Prairie Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
Wheelock Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $ 300,000
Wheelock Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
LEON COUNTY RECIPIENTS (eight grants totaling $1.38 million dollars):
Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
Centerville Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
East Leon County Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Flynn Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Jewett Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
Leona Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Normangee Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Normangee Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
GRIMES COUNTY RECIPIENTS (seven grants totaling $1.455 million dollars):
Central Grimes County Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Iola Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
Richards Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Richards Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
Shiro Volunteer Fire Department Inc Water Tender $300,000
Todd Mission Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Whitehall Community Volunteer Fire Department Small Brush Truck $165,000
WASHINGTON COUNTY RECIPIENTS (four grants totaling $775,000 dollars):
Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Gay Hill-Mound Hill-Cedar Hill Volunteer Fire Department Small Brush Truck $165,000
Latium Wesley Greenvine Volunteer Fire Department Large Brush Truck $265,000
Meyersville Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
MADISON COUNTY RECIPIENTS (two grants totaling $345,000 dollars):
Midway Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
MILAM COUNTY RECIPIENTS (four grants totaling $945,000 dollars):
City of Milano Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. Water Tender $300,000
Minerva Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000
Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department Slip-On Unit $45,000
Thorndale Volunteer Fire Department Water Tender $300,000