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.