October 7, 2004

Department adds 20 firefighters

       White River Township Fire Department has hired 20 full-time firefighters, making it the second-largest career department in Johnson County.  The department now has 35 career firefighters and 60 volunteers. Franklin Fire Department has 46 career firefighters, and Greenwood has 21.  Fire Chief Mike Tibbetts said the additional full-time employees are necessary to meet minimum safety standards. "Our runs have doubled the last 10 years," he said. "We had 1,789 calls last year."  That's an average of nearly five calls per day.  Another concern is the increasing number of apartments. "In 2001, we had about 500 multifamily dwellings, and now we have 1,700," he said.

          All of the firefighters hired have experience. Nine were hired from other career departments, and the others were volunteers with the department, Tibbetts said.  The department's general boundaries are County Line Road, Stones Crossing Road, White River and about four blocks east of Ind. 135. The department serves part of the city of Greenwood.

          Greenwood Fire Chief Steve Dhondt said his department, a combination of career, volunteers and part-time firefighters, soon would be hiring three new career officers and plans to add another three next year. On Wednesday, the department had 107 active firefighters.  "Our run load was 3,423 last year, and the demand is growing seven to 13 percent each year," Dhondt said. He said adding career firefighters is necessary to keep pace with growth.  Franklin Chief Mike Herron said his department often is strained because of heavy run loads, including two ambulances, and providing assistance to other departments in the southern part of the county.  "We go out a lot to help other departments without the necessary available volunteers," he said.  (Reprinted with permission from the Indianapolis Star)

  

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