Railroad Township officially has a new fire protection provider. The Railroad Township Volunteer Fire Department took over from the San Pierre Volunteer Fire Department Monday afternoon, according to Railroad Township Fire Chief Andy Tilleraas. “We have secured the building,” he says. “We are working on addressing some equipment issues and are recruiting members at this time.”
The changeover cleared a major hurdle Monday, when Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall found that Railroad Township Trustee Mandy Thomason has the sole authority to enter into a fire protection contract, without the need for the township board’s approval. Tilleraas says a contract between Thomason and the new fire department was signed immediately after Monday’s court hearing, and the department responded to its first structure fire that evening.
According its filing with the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office, the Railroad Township Volunteer Fire Department was officially created last Thursday, with Tilleraas listed as the incorporator. “It started with a group of members from the San Pierre Fire Department that wanted to continue to serve the community and work with the trustee on fire protection,” Tilleraas explains.
The relationship between the San Pierre Fire Department and Thomason became increasingly tense, with Thomason accusing the department of several breaches of contract and other violations. Meanwhile, firefighters say that Thomason refused to work with the San Pierre Fire Department on a potential contract renewal.
Tilleraas says anyone interested in volunteering with the Railroad Township Volunteer Fire Department may call the San Pierre Fire Station at 219-828-5843.
