INDIANAPOLIS (WFFT) - Governor Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) announced a $10 million state investment in new personal protective equipment (PPE) for volunteer fire stations.
Most Indiana communities are served by volunteer fire departments and many are operating on shoestring budgets and with dilapidated equipment.
Some wear protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) that may be more than ten years old.
Through Holcomb's 2023 Next Level Agenda, $17.7 million was allocated to firefighters through PPE and new training facilities for volunteer stations across Indiana.
This investment marks the first time the Indiana General Assembly has dedicated funds specifically to firefighters. The only other funding source for firefighters is the tax revenue from the sale of fireworks in Indiana.
"While most people run from dangerous situations, firefighters run toward them to serve their community," Holcomb said, "This investment is long overdue in our state. Nothing could be more important than for these brave men and women to be both properly suited and trained. It's how we can best serve them as they serve us."
The $10 million will purchase 940 complete sets of PPE and SCBA, benefiting 66 fire departments across every Indiana fire district.
The selection process addressed the poorest volunteer departments first and those with the oldest equipment.
"I travel extensively across the state, and I'm shocked sometimes at the rags that some of these men and women are wearing on fire scenes," said Indiana State Fire Marshal Steve Jones, "They run into burning buildings and are supposed to feel protected. The volunteer fire service is the backbone of Indiana fire protection. This investment is long overdue and we will be working hard to find additional funding to enhance safety even more in the years to come."
The funds are administered by the Indiana Fire and Public Safety Academy, led by the Indiana State Fire Marshal and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
The vendor, MES Inc., will work directly with individual firefighters to measure and fit the equipment before delivery.
IDHS accepted submissions for several months in 2023 to determine the highest-need departments.
Recipients:
District 1:
Cass-Clinton Volunteer Fire Department, Wanatah
Washington Township Volunteer Fire Dept., Valparaiso
Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department, Chesterton
District 2:
Kewanna/Union Twp. Fire Department, Kewanna
Silver Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Silver Lake
Winamac Volunteer Fire Department, Winimac
Fulton-Liberty Township Volunteer Fire, Fulton
Etna Twp. Fire and Rescue Services, Etna Green
District 3:
Spencerville Volunteer Fire Department, Spencerville
Metz Volunteer Fire Department, Angola
Liberty Center Volunteer Fire Department, Liberty Center
Amboy Volunteer Fire Co Inc., Amboy
Bippus Volunteer Fire Department, Huntington
Richland Township Fire Department, Larwill
Poneto Volunteer Fire Department, Poneto
Uniondale Fire Department, Uniondale
Denver Volunteer Fire Department, Denver
District 4:
Walnut Township Fire Department, New Ross
Idaville Volunteer Fire Department, Idaville
Georgetown Fire Department, Lake Cicott
Twelve Mile Community Volunteer Fire Dept., Twelve Mile
Rossville Volunteer Fire Department, Rossville
District 5:
Green Township Volunteer Fire Rescue Inc., Martinsville
A and A Township Volunteer Fire Dept. Inc., Martinsville
Thorntown, Sugar Creek Township Fire Dept., Thorntown
District 6:
Straughn Volunteer Fire Department, Straughn
Pennville Volunteer Fire Department, Pennville
Prairie Twp. Volunteer Fire Department, Mount Summit
Liberty Twp. Volunteer Fire Department, Selma
Eaton Volunteer Fire Department, Eaton
Dunreith Fire Department, Dunreith
Jonseboro Fire and Rescue, Jonesboro
Van Buren Township Madison County, Summitville
Liberty Twp. Volunteer Fire Department, New Castle
Upland Volunteer Fire Department, Upland
District 7:
Bowling Green Volunteer Fire Department, Bowling Green
Lyford Volunteer Fire Department, Rosedale
Coal City Community Volunteer Fire Dept., Coal City
Highland Township Volunteer Fire Dept., Bloomfield
Madison Township Volunteer Fire Dept., Greencastle
Bloomfield Volunteer Fire Department, Bloomfield
Marshall Volunteer Fire Department, Marshall
Shelburn Volunteer Fire/Rescue Dept., Shelburn
Wright Township Volunteer Fire Dept., Jasonville
Reelsville Volunteer Fire Department, Reelsville
District 8:
Jackson Twp. Volunteer Fire Department Corp., Palmyra
North Washington Volunteer Fire Inc., Vallonia
Carr Volunteer Fire Department, Medora
Huron Volunteer Fire Department, Huron
Fruitdale Volunteer Fire Co., Morgantown
Hope Volunteer Fire Department, Hope
Southern Brown Volunteer Fire Dept., Nashville
District 9:
Lexington Volunteer Fire Department, Lexington
East Enterprise Volunteer Fire Dept., East Enterprise
Marion Township Volunteer Fire Dept., Greensburg
Friendship Volunteer Fire Dept. (69-003), Friendship
Finley Township Volunteer Fire Dept., Scottsburg
Otter Creek Twp. Volunteer Fire Dept., Holton
Metamora Fire Department, Metamora
Johnston Twp. Volunteer Fire Department, Lexington
Kent Volunteer Fire Company Inc., Madison
District 10:
Rome Volunteer Fire Department Inc., Rome
Elnora/Elmore Twp. Volunteer Fire Dept., Elnora
Schnellville Volunteer Fire Department, Schnellville
New Harmony Volunteer Fire Department, New Harmony
Pigeon Township Volunteer Fire Dept., Dale
