The volunteers of the Washington Township Fire Department also complete 18 hours of training yearly to keep current with the best methods of keeping our residents safe. The last several years the fire department has been able to obtain FEMA grants to purchase new turnout gear, air packs and a fill station for the air packs. The department operates 6 vehicles, one rescue truck, two pumper trucks, two tankers and a four-wheel drive pickup that tows a Polaris four wheeler to use for grass fires and field rescues. The fire department typically has 300 plus runs on a yearly basis. The department has also greatly expanded its training program, with all members meeting the state minimum requirements, and most members taking advanced trainings such as, Firefighter I/II, Fire Instructor, Fire Officer Strategy and Tactics, Hazardous Materials, Fire Investigator, Emergency Vehicle Operations, and the National Incident Management System.The Washington Township Fire Department was founded in 1950 and currently has 33 volunteer firemen. Since 1998 the department has expanded from 3 apparatus to 6, and added on 3 additional bays to the station to accommodate the additional trucks. The improvements and expansion has continued to this day. Then in 1998 the department purchased its own rescue tools and began responding to vehicle accidents. The department then had enough first responder trained members to begin responding to assist the EMS crews.
The department remained responding only to fires until 1996. Even though we are a small department with a low run volume we strive to provide our residents with the same level of emergency services that a larger department would provide.Īs with most rural departments, the department began with a group of local residents to provide local fire protection to the township. Included in these responses are fires, vehicle accidents, assistance to the Whitley County EMS crews, weather spotting, and public assistance calls. Our coverage area is primarily agricultural and rural residential, therefore we only average approximately 55 to 65 runs per year. We protect 36 square miles in the South central portion of Whitley County. The Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department (WTVFD) is located in Whitley County, Indiana. Chartered from the Indiana Volunteer Fireman’s Association (IVFA) in 1955.
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