The Texas A&M Forest Service has announced that two Sabine County fire departments have each received a $200,000.00 cost-share grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, and administered by the Forest Service.
The Hemphill and Six Mile Volunteer Fire Departments are the recipients of the funds, which were presented to them in a ceremony attended by Texas State Representative Chris Paddie, Sabine County Judge Daryl Melton, and Hemphill Mayor Robert Hamilton, along with Hemphill Fire Chief Glen Chance and Six Mile Fire Chief Lonnie Johnston, and many others.
According to Chief Johnston, the Six Mile Fire Department is using the funds to pay for a 2,000 gallon tanker that is priceless in rural areas because it provides a large water source where there are no fire hydrants and few options to find a water source.
Meanwhile, Chief Chance said the Hemphill Fire Department will be using the funds to replace a nearly three-decade old fire truck with a new truck that is capable of battling both structure fires and wildfires with a capacity of 1,850 gallons of water.
