Sunday night, Ladder 30 was returning to the station after a fire when a driver hit the truck head on on St. Clair Avenue. That accident came on the heels of Ladder 39 being hit on Interstate 90. That's when a car plowed into the back of the truck.

"We've added more lights, decals and doesn't matter," said Mangan.

In fact, that truck, Ladder 39, has been hit several times.

"Without the truck we would be losing people's lives, the truck is a barrier," said Mangan. "So without the truck would that be a firefighter or police officer of EMT's life lost? I would argue that would be the case."

Mertens Volunteer Fire Department received a $100,000 grant through the Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.

The cost-share grant was used to purchase a 2017 Ford F550 small brush truck complete with four-wheel-drive, a 300-gallon water tank, 10-gallon foam tank and bumper nozzles.

Assistant Chief of Prevention Joe Kelley said the ISO rating of Locust Grove’s Luella area will rise six levels, from a 10 to a 4, upon the station being fully staffed and operational Oct. 16.

He spoke at the station’s Oct. 9 ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by Fire Chief Nish Willis, Chair June Wood, fire department officials, county staff members and commissioners Dee Clemmons, Blake Prince and Johnny Wilson.

Willis said the fire department is very enthusiastic about the three-bay, one-story structure.

“It’s been a long time coming for the residents out here,” she said of land including the Luella school cluster. “We have an engine and a rescue that will be riding out of this station. We’re really excited.”