BROWN COUNTY FIRE AND EMERGENCY
SERVICES FACT SHEET
County emergency services involve many county departments and service providers.Their work and equipment are funded through various sources.Much of the services are provided by volunteers.
Brown County has in all six volunteer fire departments.Cordry Sweetwater, Fruitdale, Hamblen Twp., Jackson Twp., Van Buren Twp. And Washington Township Fire Department, generally referred to as the Brown County Volunteer Fire Department.The fire departments are currently funded by the townships and raise additional monies through fund raisers.
Emergency medical service is provided by the Columbus Regional Hospital Ambulance Service.The Brown County EMT Association is a separate rescue association which owns and operates the rescue squad located at the former Seibel Clinic.The Brown County volunteer fire departments, emergency medical technicians and ambulance, work together closely and are generally cross-trained.Conservation officers and police help whenever they can.
At the League-sponsored panel discussion (Nov. 29, 1995) there was general agreement:With the rapid growth in Brown County, emergency services (fire/emergency/medical/ hazardous materials) are stretched to the limit.The County needs to evaluate the adequacy of these services and make necessary adjustments.We need to start concrete planning for improved emergency services before we get to the point of crisis.
For emergency services the time factor is crucial.Road widths and how well roads and bridges are maintained are as important for fire as they are for rescue and ambulance services.For fighting fires, there needs to be an adequate water supply and access to the fire by fire trucks.There needs to be provision for access roads and turn-arounds for fire trucks.Fire hydrants and dry hydrants should be installed in all new subdivisions.There is a need for someone to work with water companies to assure an adequate water supply for fighting fires and to ensure that existing fire hydrants and flush hydrants be maintained in working order.
Rather than relying totally on volunteer fire services it was suggested that Brown County consider establishing a county-wide fire protection district with its own board and taxing capability.If a district is established, IC 36-8-11 requires a Fire Board of Trustees, appointed by the County Commissioners.This district would have the authority to tax the property of those it serves in order to pay for fire protection, and to be capable of providing rapid, up-to-date, professional, well-coordinated emergency services (fire/medical/hazardous materials) to all areas of the county.Some increase in property tax will be necessary to fund the operation of a fire service district, but that increase will not just result in better service to those who live and work in the district.It is also expected to result in direct savings through a reduction in insurance premiums by lowering the classification from a level 10 by ISO Commercial Risk Services, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that conducts community fire protection surveys for insurance underwriters.
The Brown County Volunteer Fire Department has held public meetings and presented a proposal to the County Commissioners and the Nashville Town Council for the formation of a fire protection district, which would include Washington Township and the Town of Nashville.The District would be expanded as fire departments of other townships express a desire to come in.
The Brown County Volunteer Fire Department currently provides protection to app. 5,000 residents in its protection area, with an estimated three to five million visitors, numerous business properties and wildland areas and, through mutual aid agreements, it provides support to other departments throughout the county.It is responsible for providing protection to an area exceeding 102 square miles, larger than any other first response area in Brown, Monroe or Bartholomew County.
In 1989, the Brown County Volunteer Fire Department responded to an estimated 40 calls for help.In 1995 the department responded to 189.During these same 6 years, the department has provided its services with only a minimal increase in budget and personnel.Currently the department receives $12,000 per year from the Washington Township Trustee and $4,000 from the Town of Nashville and has access to the town capital improvement fund, which is an estimated $4,000 in 1995.It also receives $1,000 per year from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to help defray cost of providing wildfire protection on state lands.
The department consists of approximately 20 members, all of whom are expected to participate in continued training to constantly improve their skills. Several of the members are certified by the State of Indiana as instructors who provide training for members and members of departments in the area. Several are also certified by the state as first responders and extrication technicians to assist ambulance personnel. The department has received equipment to enable it to serve as the backup rescue service for Brown County and it is currently the only department in the county properly equipped to respond to hazardous material incidents. All department members are volunteers and due to their jobs and other responsibilities, not all are available to answer every call for help. In 1993, many properties in the department’s protection area have been eligible to receive a reduction in insurance premiums.In 1993, many properties in the department’s protection area were classified from level 9 to level 7 by ISO Commercial Risk Services, Inc., a not-fo-profit organization that conducts community fire protection surveys for insurance underwriters. There is a current yearly savings through Fire Protection Insurance in the area including the Town of Nashville and a surrounding 5 mile radius from the Brown County Volunteer Fire Department Station.