Miller Grove Volunteer Fire Department extends an invitation to all to the official opening ceremony Sunday of the newly constructed fire station.
The grand opening event will begin at about 12:30 p.m. Sunday and includes a barbecue lunch of brisket, beans and potato salad prepared by department members. Donations will be accepted to help pay the remainder of the financing MGVFD obtained from Guaranty Bond Bank to construct the new station.
MGVFD Chief Brian Thomas has invited Commissioner Beth Wisenbaker and crews to Sunday’s celebration as Precinct 1 employees assisted with the initial dirt work, which really got the project moving.
Volunteers will be on hand to talk about the building project, lead tours and and discuss future plans for the department.
“We hope to get as many there as possible to see the new station. We’re also hoping for a few donations, but the main thing we want is for people to come out and enjoy themselves,” said Ron Flecker, MGVFD assistant chief.
The station was originally planned as a one-story building to be completed in June. However, due to unforeseen obstacles such as rain delays and lack of running water and a septic system, the opening was delayed by about five months. The resulting facility is also larger than first planned.
“Because we were able to cut some corners and be as frugal as we could be, we were able to do a second story,” Flecker noted. “It’s completed now after a lot of hard work. I think [community members] will be impressed. We were able to do everything we set out to do. This is definitely an upgrade, big enough to house all our trucks, especially the new one.”
The new station, located a mile north of the old station on FM 275 at the Miller Grove school, is 50 feet by 80 feet and two stories, with three bays large enough to house all of MGVFD’s trucks as well as a conference/ kitchen area downstairs, and two bedrooms with two bunks per room upstairs.
“We’re definitely looking to house [fire academy recruits],” Flecker noted. “The second story living quarters would be for members of the department, and we always welcome more. We’d definitely welcome additional volunteers.”
The new station will provide housing for trucks, particularly the new engine which had to be parked outside Miller Grove school because it wouldn’t fit in the station. Weather, especially inclement winter temperatures, can be hazardous to the trucks which carry large amounts of water for firefighting. The addition of a 3,000 gallon Peterbilt tanker last winter made additional larger bays an even bigger necessity.
The installation of new trucks and station to house them will not only provide additional fire protection for area residents, but is also expected to lower the county’s ISO rating one point. For area residents, that means additional insurance savings, MGVFD members noted when they announced plans to break ground on a new station.
Flecker said that Miller Grove VFD’s service area spans from just south of Interstate 30 in southwestern Hopkins County, to just west of State Highway 19 south, and southwest into Rains and Hunt counties. Anyone interested in volunteering with the department, more information about the new station or Sunday’s grand opening can contact Flecker at 903-439-5151.
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I appreciate the willingness of the volunteer fire departments in Hopkins County to want to house fire recruits. However, we have not entered into talks regarding housing recruits at other stations other than Brinker and Arbala. We do not anticipate having to go beyond the existing housing arrangements that are currently engaged. If and when, the Northeast Texas Fire & EMS Training Academy takes in more students than what the current two stations can handle, we will be more than happy to engage discussions in further use of other facilities.
Sincerely, Larry Davlin, CEO, Northeast Texas Fire & EMS Training Academy