Updated, 2:36 p.m. MT, May 31, 2011

I have seen too many photos like this, of firefighters in Texas standing, sitting, or kneeling on the back of a fire truck fighting fire. In addition to the obvious hazard of the effects of the fire itself on an exposed firefighter, there is also the risk of the overloaded and top-heavy truck rolling and injuring or killing the firefighter riding on the back.

According to the Lake Tanglewood Fire Department’s web site, Grass 1 pictured here, is a 1992 Ford F-350, with a 500-gallon water tank. The payload this truck is carrying is probably at least 5,000 pounds, pretty close to if not over the GVWR.

Here are a couple of photos taken April 8, 2011, by Victor Cristales, showing the Stonewall County Volunteer Fire Department fighting fire in Texas.

These firefighters deserve credit for helping their communities, and I know that many rural fire departments in Texas receive little or no tax revenue from citizens who expect free fire protection, but there is no excuse for this.

UPDATE: ChuckW’s comment below led us to a good idea. We are going to accept nominations for a Texas fire department that needs help in the form of donated fire equipment, or even cash.