Starting a Fire Department

[POC1813]

Hi all, I am looking for information on starting a fire department, I live in Indiana, and I'm sure things are different everywhere, but some generals are the same probably.

Appreciate it!
POC

[SRVFD2]

We've been there and done that, and can give you lots of ideas - but first, I'm curious why you want to start one - the webpage looks like you've got one going already.

[POC1813]

The fire department I am on does not cover the area where I live. I live 10 miles out of town. The Department that does cover this area, also covers about half of the county, and their station is centrally located, but it still takes them about 15-20 minutes to get to my area. Any trailer is gone by then, and a house is well involved. So, I am interested in seeing what I have to do to start a department, in the township I live in, to cover the area where I live.
My initial prompting might have been selfish. (I'm building a house in this area)But, since the inital thoughts, I have seen that the other people in the area also deserve fire coverage above that which they are currently recieving.
If you could, SRVFD2, email me privately, also are you on ICQ or AOL messenger?
pcassidy@blueriver.net
Thanks
POC

[cynthianc54]

If you're still sharing info regarding starting a fire department I really would like that info as well. The type that my colleagues and I want to start will specifically handle wildland fires. There is a problem dealing with rural fires because the fire departments cant get access to the fires. So we've come up with a Strategic Plan and a LOI, but who do we deliver it to? Who do we go to set up our fire department? You can post the info here or you can email it to me as well at cynthianc54@aol.com. My colleagues are the fire fighters I handle all the fun work of trying to get this off the ground so I'd appreciate any help you can give.

[mvfd1a2]

The first step would be to approach the township trustee to see what their view is on starting up a department for the township. Also going to the trustee you can ask if there is any funding available from the trustees office or if you going to have to do everything by donations. It would be very expensive to start up for instance a small dept will have to pay a insurance premium of somewhere around 6000 a year, then you will have to acquire a building, trucks, gear, communications, and loose equipment. What is the population you will serve?

[missflame1983]

After approaching the township trustee, what are the next necessary steps to take to get this department started? i am trying to get things in order and i would like to know what i would exactly need before even going in front of my trustee too. thanks

[f1rebug2878]

If there is anyone still offering the necessary information as far as required paperwork for chartering a volunteer fire department, please let me know.

Although there are several departments in my area, there is a severe time delay in response to alarms in the area I live in. The city has one department nearby, however they do not cover my area since it has not been annexed yet. The two volunteer departments nearby have decent response times, however by the time they arrive on scene any structure would be fully involved if not completely lost already. There is also a new section of interstate opening down the road from me which will be covered by the two volunteer departments, however the one department would have to drive several miles out of their way to get to the access ramp.

Please let me know if there is anything anyone can do to assist me in obtaining the necessary paperwork.

Thanks.

[thoskin]

Really old thread! If anyone is still out there looking for help, can tell you what we did, what happened and why we did. Whole lot of stuff to just start typing about, but can offer advice/experience on specific Q's. Fire away! Pun intended.

[ffmedcbk1]

is this originally from the he/she out in az?

[dmleblanc]

The two volunteer departments nearby have decent response times, however by the time they arrive on scene any structure would be fully involved if not completely lost already. .

Doesn't sound like a decent response time to me...