Forest service awards funds to Hedley Fire Department

The Hedley Volunteer Fire Department was among the beneficiaries when the Texas A&M Forest Service recently approved $29.3 million in funding for grants to Texas volunteer fire departments through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.

Hedley received a grant of $25,000 to purchase fire and rescue equipment.

“We’re going to buy complete new bunker gear for five firefighters,” Fire Chief Clayton Beagle told the Enterprise.

HVFD will have to provide a match of ten percent, Beagle said.

In the fourth funding round of the year, the program awarded 531 grants addressing volunteer fire department requests for personal protective equipment, slip-on units, fire and rescue equipment, water tenders, small brush trucks and training aids.

Texas A&M Forest Service has administered the grant program under the Texas Legislature since 2002. Recognizing Texas volunteer fire department’s critical ongoing needs for vehicles, equipment, safety gear and training, the 89th Texas Legislature appropriated approximately $88 million in funding for the biennium (fiscal years 2026-27) – the most ever allocated – to keep up with annual demand.

Texas uses a tiered approach to wildfire response, establishing local fire departments and counties as the first on the scene. More than 85% of Texas fire departments are volunteer though and grant funding helps maintain well-trained staff, safe and equipped firefighters.

“With increased funding from the Legislature, we’ve been able to provide support to more volunteer fire departments than ever before,” said Jason Keiningham, Texas A&M Forest Service Capacity Building Department Head. “We’re proud to do everything in our power to help our partners in the fire service.”

The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department did not apply for this particular grant program, but Fire Chief Jeremy Powell said CFVD has received money from the forest service every time it has applied and most recently received a $15,000 emergency grant to cover repairs to a truck lost in the Eight Ball Fire.

Howardwick did not receive funding among the awards announced last week, but officials there say they are expecting to be reimbursed for expenses from the Eight Ball Fire under other emergency funding.