COAL GROVE — Before Monday night’s village council meeting, local officials were able to show off their recent $1 investment.

In March, the fire department acquired a 1994 Ford heavy rescue truck from a raffle at Braskem in Kenova, W.Va. Mayor Larry McDaniel, who works at Braskem, had the fire department added to the drawing, along with two other Tri-State fire agencies.

Braskem plant manager Jeff Blatt said the vehicle was a surplus at the plant, gathering dust. It had been used as an ambulance.

“We’re really pleased to do it,” said Blatt of the raffle. “To put it to good use. To save some lives.”

Coal Grove Volunteer Fire Department Chief Gary Sherman said the vehicle came equipped with rescue, Hazmat and medical equipment, some of which the department can use and some it can sell.

The truck was painted red, striped, and logos were added. Sherman said some shelving was added and two batteries were bought. The total cost put into the vehicle was about $1,500 he said.

The vehicle will be used as a mobile storage vehicle for rescue equipment and will be used for mutual aid calls instead of the fire trucks Sherman said.

“One of the pluses that came along with it, is we can haul seven people in seat belt positions.”

Sherman also said the vehicle will provide protection for the firefighters as well as law enforcement when they are on the scene of accidents or fires.

“I think it’s great,” said McDaniel. “It worked out for us. We got lucky.”