Thornton VFD

06/06/2026

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.

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.

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.

05/14/2026

04/18/2026

We don’t expect Public Works to fundraise for essential infrastructure.
So why do we expect it from our fire departments?

Volunteer firefighters are protecting our communities with aging equipment and bake sale budgets. That gap shouldn’t exist.

It’s time we start treating emergency response like the essential service it is.

04/06/2026

The burn ban has been lifted as of 4/6/26

04/02/2026

https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-activates-state-emergency-response-resources-ahead-of-severe-weather-threat-across-texas

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that he directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of severe weather expected to impact multiple regions of Texas this week.