Fire Department

Published on Tuesday, 24 May 2011 09:21 Written by Gus Pearcy Hits: 851

Category: Fire Department

Fire Department

The Washington Township/Avon Fire Department employs 65 members assigned to various areas of the fire department. 57 members are currently assigned to the operations division and work a 24 hour on 48 hour off shift, responding from one of three firehouses.

Each shift is commanded by a Battalion Chief, with a Lieutenant assigned to each station on each shift. We currently operate two engine companies, one ladder company, one hazardous materials response truck, two transporting medic trucks, and an incident command vehicle.

21 of our personnel are certified at the paramedic level, 4 are certified at the advanced EMT level, and all remaining members are EMT’s. The department currently has 53 hazardous material technicians. The department averages 10.93 runs per day.

We currently provide fire suppression, advanced life support ambulance transport, auto extrication, ice rescue, and hazmat technician level decontamination. The department responds as mutual aid to all surrounding departments. Our department also participates in the Hendricks County Tactical Rescue response team. This team responds county wide on water, collapse, trench, and confined space rescue calls. They also assist surrounding counties with these disciplines.

The operations division of the department is supported by an administration staff of 9. The department is led by Fire Chief Dan Smith. There are 3 Division Chiefs: Training, EMS, and Fire Prevention/Investigations.

We have two directors of programs, Director of Public Education and Director of Support Services. The Fire Prevention and Investigations division employs one inspector/investigator. The Division Chief of Fire Prevention and investigator are sworn special deputies of the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department and have full police powers.

 

The Department is Comprised of the Following Divisions

 

Operations Division

• Respond to all Fire, Emergency Medical, Hazardous Material Release, and Special Rescue situations throughout the Township.
• Provide mutual aid to all surrounding departments
• Participate in the Hendricks County Rescue Task Force
• Provide station tours
• Provide firefighter and equipment visits to community events

Training Division

• Maintain training of all firefighters
• Fire Extinguisher training for some businesses
• Assist in outside training for community groups
• Guest speakers for outside groups
• Answer question to the public on how to remove unwanted buildings when we cannot use them for training
• Assist on making arrangements for apparatus on special events

EMS Division

• Teach Advance Cardiac Life Support
• Teach Pre Hospital Trauma Life Support
• Maintain all supplies and equipment for township emergency medical service vehicles
• Maintain training for all EMS certification
• Health and Safety Officer for all department employees

Fire Prevention Division

• Conduct Inspections of all Class I new and existing structures in Washington Township and the Town of Avon for compliance with the applicable adopted state codes and local ordinances.
• Conduct plan review of site, building, sprinkler, fire alarm, and special hazard system plans for applicable projects.
• Conduct origin and cause determinations of fires and explosions in Washington Township and the Town of Avon. This service is also provided to other local departments when requested. These investigations go from determining cause and origin, to writing and serving search warrants to filing probable cause affidavits with the county prosecutor.
• Conduct juvenile fire setter assessments of juveniles that have been referred to the division due to recent fire play or a fire setting incident.
• Answer question from the public in reference to the installation and maintenance of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Answer question and follow up on complaints regarding the open burning laws and ordinances.
• Conduct speaking engagements with local organizations and business in the community regarding fire safety and severe weather
• Observe fire drills at schools, nursing homes and assisted living facilities and provide feedback to the management on further ways to be more efficient in the evacuation of occupants.
• Provide assistance where needed to command staff at working incidents

Public Education Division

We offer several public education programs to benefit the residents, businesses, and organizations within the community.

To schedule an event please contact Julie Stone or Josie Conrad-Simison at 317-272-2155. Please have your name, address, phone number, date of event, time of event, number of people attending (even if this is an estimate), ages of people attending event, address event will be located at, back up date and time of event, and what you would like us to do.

If you do not see an event listed that you would like please contact us, we might be able to assist you or refer you to a place where you can get the event you want!

Topic Lessons (From 15-Min to 1-Hr)

• Apparatus Show - Kids tour the truck at your location (businesses and large events only. Not available to come to homes)
• Basic First Aid Training
• Bike Safety
• Car Seat installation/check - by appointment only
• CPR/AED Training - For groups or businesses only
• Fire Safety
• Poison Safety
• Safety Trailer
  • Kitchen/home safety
  • Severe Weather
  • Fire escape with smoke simulation
• Severe Weather
• Station Tours
  • Station 141 - located center in the Township off US 36 across for Avon Middle School South
  • Station 142 - located off Ronald Regan Parkway across from the Regal cinema
  • Station 143 - located in Prestwick just South of the golf course on CR 525 E
• Water Safety

Support Services Division

• Provide and coordinate maintenance for all fire department vehicles and properties.
• Coordinate and purchase all department supplies, equipment, uniforms, and safety clothing.
• Maintain inventory of all department owned equipment and supplies.