SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) will deliver this week more than $800,000 worth of equipment to eight fire departments as part of a grant program administered through Texas Forest Service. The awarding of this equipment is the first of its kind and is part of a long-term strategic plan to develop TIFMAS resources around the state.
The Type VI engines were built at Siddons Fire Apparatus in San Antonio, where they’ll be picked up by the receiving departments next week. Vernon, Borger, Midland, Weatherford, Travis County, Pharr, Lufkin and Galveston Fire Departments are the recipients of the trucks, which cost about $100,000 each.
Departments in Big Spring, Brownwood, Georgetown, Lewisville, Mission, Nacogdoches, Flower Mound and Cedar Hill were awarded Type VI engines through the grant program in February.
The TIFMAS grant program was created in the 2009 Legislature under Senate Bill 1011 and is maintained by Texas Forest Service. The TIFMAS grant program is a collaborative effort of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association, State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals Association, Texas State Association of Fire Fighters, Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas Forest Service.
TIFMAS, under the direction of Texas Forest Service and the TIFMAS state coordinator, offers training, equipment and vehicle grants, credentialing standards and mobilization systems to make statewide use of local resources. The program was first mobilized during Hurricane Ike to provide an organized response strategy for the needed resources. Since its inception, TIFMAS has mobilized both resources and personnel for significant state events including Hurricane Ike, 2009 winter wildfires, Hurricane Alex and 2011 Texas wildfires.
TIFMAS will continue to strategically award vehicles annually across the state based on the TIFMAS acquisition schedule.
