Bill Outlining Rights of Full-Time Firefighters Heads to Indiana Senate

A bill that aims to strengthen the rights of professional firefighters was advanced Monday by the Indiana House of Representatives. House Bill 1015 would extend to full-time firefighters the same protections that the General Assembly put in place for police officers last year, according to the bill’s author, Representative Jim Pressel.

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Starke County COAD Seeks Local Restaurants and Businesses Willing to Assist First Responders

The Starke County COAD is looking for local restaurants and businesses willing to donate food, beverages and other resources to first responders during lengthy emergency situations.

This would be a local effort similar to canteen services offered by the Red Cross. Starke County EMA Director J. Nier would assist the COAD with this initiative. When a major incident occurs and responders are expected to be out in the field for an extended period of time, she would call on COAD members to get resources to the scene as soon as possible. Continue reading

Culver-Union Township Fire Chief Receives Firefighter Applications

Culver-Union Township Fire Chief Terry Wakefield told the town council members last week that he’s received three applications for firefighters.

The fire department has suffered from a dwindling roster of firefighters and Wakefield has been soliciting for applications from Culver or Union Township residents for the past year hoping to gather interest in training to be a firefighter.

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Oregon Township Considers Approve Purchase of Cascade System

Oregon Township officials considered the purchase of a bottle filler system for the Koontz Lake-Oregon Township Fire Department during their meeting Tuesday night.

Fire Chief Andy Lawrence explained that he needs to take the air bottle tanks to the Walkerton-Polk Township Fire Department to refill as their current compressor is outdated and can no longer adequately fill the tanks. He’d like to have one at the station so they won’t have to rely on using Walkerton’s equipment and creating more wear and tear on that equipment than necessary.

The tanks are worn by the firefighters to aid them with breathing when battling fires.

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Sen. Arnold Attempts To Remedy Firefighter Nepotism Situation

Senator Jim Arnold
Senator Jim Arnold

A bill preventing firefighters from serving on Township Boards was approved in Indiana about two years ago, but State Senator Jim Arnold is trying to exempt firefighters under new legislation.

Senator Arnold has filed a bill that would allow an individual to serve as both a member of a Township Board and a volunteer firefighter. The move comes after many rural areas have been experiencing problems finding individuals to serve in government.
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