It would probably be only a minister who would describe it that way.

But Bennie Grissom, Lewisville Fire Department chaplain, was not being inaccurate when he blessed the city’s newest firehouse Monday morning at a dedication ceremony, stating that it will “minister” to the needs of the city.

A crowd of about 200 people came in the rain for a dedication ceremony which was moved inside because of the inclement weather,

Grissom, who gave both the invocation at the beginning and the blessing at the end, said, “Out of this station shall come ministries to people in their darkest hour.”

After the ceremony, Assistant Fire Chief Tim Tittle hugged Grissom and told him, “They already have.”

The station opened last month, and Tittle said quick responses from the new firehouse have already prevented tragic fires in the area.

Tittle oversaw the construction of Firehouse No. 7 and is now officing in the new facility at 1070 Texas Street. He said firefighters from the new station, located near the intersection of Business Highway 121 and Interstate 35E, can more quickly respond to emergencies in most of the city because its centralized location.

Tittle told the crowd how, just over two years ago, he and Lewisville Fire Chief Rick Lasky were looking for a more centralized location for the fire department’s truck company, which previously was housed at the fire station at Main Street and Valley Parkway. He said they were looking at the property on which the old Pines Motel had been located for many years and at another piece of property in the area.

“Somehow, none of the locations we looked at were exactly perfect,” he said.

They suddenly realized they were parked in front of a for sale sign in front of the former Owens Restaurant.

As they stared at the sign and the property behind it, it began to dawn on them what a perfect location that property would be for the new fire station.

They received the go-ahead from then Mayor Gene Carey and other city officials and the property was soon purchased.

Carey told the Monday morning crowd, “I am extremely proud that we were able to build this new station. I don’t know of a better use for this property.”

He added, “I I used to come here to the Owens Restaurant a lot and eat.”

Tittle told Carey, “You can still come here and eat. We have some good cooks here.”

Lasky praised Tittle for taking charge of the new firehouse project.

He said working with a professional team composed of Tittle and Darrell Brown, the other assistant fire chief, makes his job easier. He presented Tittle a gold-colored antique fire extinguisher as a gift for his hard work on the project.

Mayor Pro Tem Lathan Watts told the crowd that the new fire station is “the crown jewel of the system.”

He praised the firefighters, saying, “The word ‘heroes’ is overused, but everyone knows that is what they are.”

The fire department’s color guard opened the ceremony by presenting the colors and the department’s Pipes and Drums provided music.

David Lehde of U.S. Congressman Michael Burgess’ office presented a flag which had been flown over the U.S. Capitol and Lisa Lyons of State Sen. Chris Harris’ office gave the station a flag which had been flown over the Texas Capitol.


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