COUPLAND — Countryside residents north of Elgin can maybe have a little more assurance in an emergency that first responders will have more tools needed to save them.The Coupland Volunteer Fire Department received a grant of over $16,000 to buy new fire and rescue equipment. The grant was made possible through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.The cutter and spreader that the department purchased can be used to rescue and extricate victims of vehicle crashes and assist in making forcible entry at emergency scenes. The tools are battery powered, making them easier for fire crews to manage without worrying ...