A Lockney volunteer firefighter battles a fire in the 700 block of 7th street on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. (Ryan Crowe/FCR)
COLLEGE STATION, TX – The Lockney Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service to purchase new fire and rescue equipment. The funding is part of a $17.6 million statewide disbursement through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, which provides critical support to rural departments.
Lockney’s grant was included in the second phase of awards for fiscal year 2026, which approved funding for 687 equipment grants and 66 dry hydrant grants. Departments were notified of their award status on December 5, 2025, through the Forest Service’s FireConnect system.
The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program was created by House Bill 2604 in 2001 and has since distributed more than $500 million to departments across Texas. Funding helps cover the cost of vital equipment, including protective gear and training aids, to bolster emergency response in rural communities.
The latest round of grants follows the 89th Texas Legislature’s historic investment of more than $192 million into the program. An additional $88 million in base funding was also approved for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
