January 1, 2004

2004 call volume decreases

       Now that 2004 is in the record books, the final numbers can be tallied.  The White River Township Fire Department responded to 1,626 calls for help in 2004 for everything from heart attacks and car accidents to house and building fires.  In between responding to requests for aid, the department actively and aggressively promotes fire prevention on many different levels.  Targeted groups include the district's five elementary schools, two middle schools, school bus drivers, doctor's offices, youth groups, and daycare centers.  In early 2004, the Department of Local Government Finance approved the Fire Protection District request for a one time 3-year Growth Appeal.  The budget was increased from $2.2 million to just under 4 million dollars.  This allowed the department to move ahead of schedule in their 5-year plan to hire 20 full-time firefighters to increase their full-time staff from 15 to 35.  The department still needs the assistance from it's volunteer force to keep the apparatus in service.  With an expected influx of hundreds of multi-family dwellings alone in the next few years, the departments call volume is expected to increase dramatically.
 

Note:  2002 figure NOT adjusted for single-day outlier of 63 calls due to tornado

  

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