COALMONT, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — With field fires and burn bans in effect there is a need for local volunteer fire departments now more important than ever.
So far this year, Louis Township Volunteer Fire Department has gone on 159 calls and last year they went on 252 calls showing that the demand for local volunteer fire departments is still much needed.
The Lewis Township fire and rescue is struggling with getting applications and finding younger people to join the volunteer fire department.
“They don’t know what to do either,” said Don Hixon, Fire Chief for Lewis Township. “We put the word out and we try to recruit we have we have different things that we can get from the state to help with recruiting retention. They’re just not there.”
Hixon, who has been with Lewis Township for 18 years and has been a fire fighter for 24 knows that if volunteer departments start to dwindle there are going to be issues later down the road.
“We’re afraid that it’s going to get to the point where nobody wants to be involved and that not good for the communities at all because if they shut down one of the smaller departments, then you’re going to be waiting longer for that truck to arrive,” said Hixon.
Hixon isn’t exactly sure why numbers have decreased but right they only have 11 on staff at their fire department whereas in years past that is how many they would have going out on a single fire call.
“11, 12 maybe we could we have three trucks that we could put 13 people in and through the trucks and we would fill a receipt on those trucks at that time and now it may be one person rolling out the truck,” said Hixon.
You can start training to become a volunteer firefighter at 16 and once you turn 18 you can take the necessary test to become certified. Hixon states that you have full support from the fire department and you never do anything alone.
“We will train you for free. We will give you all the gear for free. There are multiple training sites all over the state and some out of state that we will pay to send them to. so really not a whole lot out-of-pocket.” said Hixon.
Fire fighter training is at the pace you need it be and with small town volunteer fire departments they are able to do everything with you at the station.
To learn more about the Lewis Township Fire Department, click here.
