The Merrill Fire Department searched across the country for a new fire chief. But the chief it picked ended up close to home. Josh Klug was introduced as the new fire chief at a badge pinning ceremony Thursday morning. He previously served as a firefighter in Merrill for 11 years before leaving for a new job in Mosinee in 2013. Klug feels that his Merrill roots will better allow him to serve the community. "I can't count the number of times where you would show up on scene and a family member, or the injured person would say am I glad to see you and have a face that they recognize and someone they knew would maybe just care about them a little extra," said Klug.