Indianapolis, Indiana-November 2007

Decatur Township is one of the nine townships that make up Marion County (Indianapolis), Indiana. It is home to about 28,000 residents and, though considered the smallest township in Marion County, has seen tremendous growth in recent years. Located in the southwest corner, it has long been one of the most rural sections of the county, but has seen many new residential and commercial developments. The township serves as the home of the new Indianapolis International Airport main terminal and boasts one of the largest industrial parks in Indiana, AmeriPlex, which covers 2500 acres. Settled along the banks of the White River in the 1820’s by mostly Quakers from South Carolina, many residents can trace their lineages back to these early settlers.

Fire Department Sees Extensive Growth
Serving the Township’s emergency services needs is the Decatur Township Fire Department. When 17-year Chief Dale Henson took over the reins in 1990 as the volunteer chief, there were 85-90 volunteers and only 3 paid personnel. In 1994, he became a paid chief and has hired 64 paid personnel over the years. Thirty were hired between 2004 and 2005. There are an additional 12 reserves as well. During his tenure, the chief has seen his budget grow exponentially from $410,000 to $6,000,000 and annual runs grow from 1,600 to over 4,000. The addition of the new Airport main terminal will lead to a projected increase of 500 runs per year.

Community Service is Important
Twice a month, a department representative visits every grade school in the community to read to the children. Their 13th annual golf outing occurred this year that raises money for the Hoosier Burn Camp, People’s Burn Foundation and needy families in the community. The event has raised over $50,000 over the years. This past Halloween, the department held its “Halloween Night at the Firehouse” where they greeted their largest gathering in the last six years. Fifteen hundred children enjoyed activities provided by local sponsors and received treats, food and drinks.

Chief Gives Back to His Personnel
One of the chief’s goals has been to provide a good workplace with the most up-to-date equipment they can buy. Through the help of grants, the chief has been able to replace all communications, purchase exercise equipment for each station, and replace SCBA’s (with the hope of purchasing a 2nd set for each fire fighter). A grant from Fireman’s Fund Insurance enabled the purchase of RIT packs.

Additionally, he wants to take care of his personnel’s health and safety. They receive regular EMS and live fire training, and annual physical examinations. Over the years, the department has seen a stabilization and decrease in the primary risk factors that contribute towards heart disease, the leading on-duty cause of death. Chief Henson believes the annual physicals are very important to ensure that his fire fighters are fit and ready to serve on a daily basis. “It’s important to find things wrong and to take care of those issues while you can,” states the chief. In 2005, the department became tobacco free and has disallowed tobacco use in the stations. The chief summarizes his thoughts on fire fighter health: “If you’re currently not doing annual physicals, you’re doing your fire fighters and your community an injustice.”

Click here for the Decatur Twp. Fire Department newsletter article.

For more information on the Decatur Twp.Fire Department, visit online by clicking here.

© 2007 Public Safety Medical Services