March 10, 1995

Fire districts stretch staff

       It doesn’t seem possible, but it has been almost three years since we opened our second fire station at the corner of Fairview Road and Meridian Parke Lane, just off of State Road 135. And we did so just in time, considering the boom of both commercial and residential construction occurring in this particular area of Johnson County.  Like other Johnson County fire departments, our run load increases every year. In 1993, we responded on 821 runs. In 1994, we responded on 940 runs. This increase in runs also requires a corresponding increase in the need for more training, better equipment and more firefighters.  Between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. we currently staff five firefighters between both stations.  After 7 p.m. we drop to four firefighters on duty because of the greater availability of volunteer staff.  We also have a battalion chief scheduled 24 hour per day, seven days per week to oversee the operation of the department.  However, the White River area is not the only area in Johnson County which is experiencing growth. Growth has had a positive effect on the county in several ways, including the fact that more jobs have been created and a better standard of living has come about.  But with this growth, we must prepare ourselves for what the future holds. In the fire service, we must increase our skills through training, we must staff more firefighters on our stations, and through continued community support, be able to provide the best and most effective fire and medical services available.   Scott Cassin is chief of the White River Township Fire Deportment.  Lt. Ed Frederick contributed to this article.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

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