Segno Volunteer Fire Department and South Polk County Volunteer Fire Department were among the 118 rural volunteer fire departments across the state to receive funding through the Texas A&M Forest Service which awarded nearly $5 million to support firefighting equipment and emergency response needs across the state.
Segno VFD will receive $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment and South Polk County VFD will receive $25,000 for personal protective equipment.
The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program was established in 2001 through House Bill 2604 during the 77th legislative session to assist volunteer fire departments with
the purchase of firefighting apparatus, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing and other resources needed to safely and effectively respond to emergencies in their communities.
Rural volunteer fire departments provide essential emergency response services across Texas and often serve as the first line of response to wildfires and other emergencies.
“We work diligently to utilize all available program funds to assist fire departments in acquiring the necessary equipment and training to allow them to better protect life and property across the state of Texas,” 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 assistance was awarded during the fifth and final round of fiscal year 2026. Demand for assistance through the program routinely exceeds available funding as volunteer fire departments work to maintain and replace vehicles, protective gear and other essential resources. In response to the continued need, the 89th Texas Legislature allocated an unprecedented $192 million in one-time additional funding to address outstanding funding requests.
In fiscal year 2026, Texas A&M Forest Service awarded over $227 million through the program to support 1,229 volunteer fire departments across the state.
In addition to providing grants for firefighting apparatus and equipment, the program provides funding for training tuition, volunteer recruitment resources and the repair or replacement of equipment damaged or lost following catastrophic events or declared states of disaster.
Applications not approved during the Aug. 26 funding round will automatically move forward for consideration during future funding rounds. The next funding round is scheduled for October 2026.
