Newport Volunteer Fire Department received funding in the latest grant distribution from the Texas A&M Forest Service, which provided a combined $4.99 million to 118 rural volunteer fire departments across Texas on Aug. 26.
The money may be used for firefighting vehicles and other response equipment, as well as protective clothing. The distribution was the fifth and final round of the agency’s fiscal year 2026 program.
During the fiscal year, the program awarded more than $227 million to 1,229 volunteer fire departments statewide. The source identified Newport VFD as the Texoma-area recipient in the Aug. 26 round.
The program also supports training tuition, volunteer recruitment materials, and the repair or replacement of equipment damaged or lost during catastrophic events or declared disasters. Requests for assistance regularly exceed the available funding, with departments seeking resources such as replacement vehicles and protective gear.
The 89th Texas Legislature provided an additional $192 million in one-time funding to address pending requests. Applications not approved in the latest distribution will be carried into consideration for later funding rounds.
