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.”

"Without the support of the government and the residents that we serve, the project could not have been started and definitely could not have been completed," said David Dugan, fire chief at Citizens Fire Company No. 1.