Indianapolis Fire Department

Indianapolis Fire Department
Our Family Serving Your Family
Operational area
Country  United States
State  Indiana
City Indianapolis
Agency overview[1][2]
Established November 14, 1859 (1859-11-14)
Annual calls 95,603 (2014)
Employees 1,205 (2014)
Annual budget $145,068,571 (2014)
Staffing Career
Fire chief Ernest Malone
EMS level ALS
IAFF 416
Facilities and equipment[1]
Battalions 7
Stations 44
Engines 43
Trucks 19
Tillers 1
Platforms 7
Squads 6
Ambulances 42 (provided by IEMS)
Tenders 2
HAZMAT 4
USAR 1
Rescue boats 4
Light and air 5
Website
Official website
IAFF website

The Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. In total the department is responsible for 278 square miles (720 km2).[1]

History

The first fire department in Indianapolis was not founded until June 20, 1826. It was a volunteer department that had to use a church bell for alarms, and had only ladders and leather buckets to fight fires. This was seventeen months after the first recorded fire in Indianapolis occurred on January 17, 1825, which took place across the street from the county courthouse in a tavern.[3]

In 1835, a law was passed requiring the purchase of an engine, along with better equipment, to be partially funded by the state and partially by the city, in order to protect the Indiana statehouse. From this, the Marion Fire, Hose, and Protection Company was established. An additional volunteer company was founded in 1841 and there were eight total volunteer companies in Indianapolis by 1859. Collectively, 600 men were volunteers in these eight companies, and although unpaid, they did receive perks such as immunity from being called on juries or militia duty, and not having to pay poll taxes or taxes for roads.[4]

The volunteer companies were rather political, and tended to express their views freely. They were also known to break into brothels and freely use their hoses on the clientele and the interior walls, wrecking the places; this was done not for moral reasons, but rather, to amuse themselves.[5] As a result, the Indianapolis City Council established a paid force on November 14, 1859, so that the council could have control over Indianapolis' fire protection, which it did not have over the volunteers. The Indianapolis Fire Department began with a hook and ladder company and two hand engines, but would in 1860 gain their first steam engine.[6]

The former IFD Headquarters at 301 E. New York Street is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The paid firemen had no days off, were not allowed to leave their post except for one meal, and were seldom allowed to leave the firehouse unless on fire business or a family emergency. An ordinance in 1859 made it illegal to give firemen alcoholic beverages. Their clothes were irregular; uniforms were not worn until 1874, with a regulation uniform established in 1928. Firemen had to buy their own uniforms until 1943, when a $60 clothing allowance was established. An attempt to remove politics from the fire department was not very successful; it was necessary to mandate that the department staff be half Republican and half Democrat, and the role of fire chief was based on political affiliation and family contacts.[7]

The first dog to discover arson for the Indianapolis Fire Department was acquired in July 1993.[8]

Mergers with township fire departments

In 2007, the process began to absorb some of the fire departments in the eight townships in Marion County other than Center Township that were not previously part of the IFD coverage area. As of 2014, five of the eight township fire departments have merged with IFD:[9]

Townships still retaining their own fire departments as of 2014:

Operations

There are currently fourteen Divisions of Operations within the Indianapolis Fire Department: Communications, Emergency Operations, Emergency Medical Services, Executive Services, Finance and Pension, Fire Investigations Section, Fire and Life Safety, Homeland Security/Special Operations and Training, Quartermaster, Information Technology, Media Relations, Safety, Support Services, and USAR Indiana Task Force One.[10]

USAR Task Force 1

The Indianapolis Fire Department is the founding member of one of the 28 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.[11] Indiana Task Force 1 (IN-TF1) is made up of members of multiple fire departments in Marion County.[12]

Indianapolis EMS

Ambulance transport in the city of Indianapolis is provided by Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, a division of the Indianapolis Department of Public Safety. This division was formed to unify care that was previously being provided separately by both the Indianapolis Fire Department and Wishard Memorial Hospital.[13] As of 2013 the department operates 42 ambulances, with approximately 32 of them deployed during peak hours.[14] Fourteen of these ambulances are stationed at IFD fire stations.[15] While technically separate from the Fire Department, members of IEMS are also part of the IAFF Union 416.[16]

Stations and apparatus

Fire Station # 32, located at 6330 Guildford Ave.
Neighborhood Engine Truck IEMS Medic Special Chief Battalion
1 Haughville Engine 1Ladder 1 Rescue 1 7[17]
2 Mitthoefer Engine 2 Medic 2 4[18]
3 Fountain SquareEngine 3 Battalion 5 5[19]
4 Greenbriar Engine 4 Ladder 4 2[20]
5 Methodist HospitalEngine 5 Rescue 5 Battalion 11[21]
6 Nora Engine 6Ladder 6 Boats 6 2[22]
7 Renaissance Place Engine 7Tiller Ladder 7 Rescue 7, Squad 7
Boats 7, Hovercraft 7 		Safety 4 7[23]
8 Millersville Engine 8 Safety 2 3[24]
9 Castleton Engine 9 Ladder 9 Medic 9 Rescue 9 2[25]
10 Brightwood Engine 10 Platform Ladder 10 Squad 10 Battalion 3 3[26]
11 Irish Hill Engine 11 5[27]
12 Crooked Creek Engine 12 Medic 12 1[28]
13 West DowntownEngine 13 Platform Ladder 13 Hazmat 13, Squad 13 Battalion 77[29]
14 Children's MuseumEngine 14 Ladder 14 Tactical 14, Squad 14, Boats 14 1[30]
15 Near Eastside Engine 15 Platform Ladder 15 5[31]
16 Butler-Tarkington Engine 16 1[32]
17 Avelon Hills Engine 17 Medic 17 Battalion 22[33]
18 Hawthorne Engine 18 Medic 18 Air Unit 18 7[34]
19 Near Southwestside Engine 19 Platform Ladder 19 Decon 19, Foam 19 7[35]
20 Little Flower Engine 20 Ladder 20 3[36]
21 Clearwater Engine 21 Medic 21 2[37]
22 Fall Creek Engine 22 Platform Ladder 22 3[38]
23 University Heights Engine 23 Battalion 6 6[39]
24 Devington Engine 24 Medic 24 3[40]
25 Irvington Engine 25 Tactical Support 25 3[41]
26 Lindenwood Engine 26 6[42]
27 Brookside Engine 27 Ladder 27 5[43]
28 Geist Engine 28 Swift Rescue 28 2[44]
29 Garfield Park Engine 29 Ladder 29 Air & Command 29

Squad 29

5[45]
30 Eagledale Engine 30 Ladder 30 1[46]
31 Fairgrounds Engine 31 Ladder 31 Decon 31, Air Unit 31 1[47]
32 Broad Ripple Squad 32 2[48]
33 Far Westside Engine 33 1[49]
34 Edgewood Engine 34 Ladder 34 Rescue 34, MIRV 34 6[50]
35 Far Southside Engine 35 Platform Ladder 35 6[51]
36 Geist,_Indianapolis Engine 36 Ladder 36 2[52]
41 Washington Square Engine 41 Medic 41 4[53]
42 South Warren Engine 42 Medic 42Tanker 42 4[54]
43 Eastgate Engine 43 Platform Ladder 43 Rescue 43Battalion 4 4[55]
44 EastsideEngine 44 Ladder 44Medic 44HazMat 44 4[56]
45 Eastside Engine 45 Medic 45 4[57]
52 Acton Engine 52 Medic 52 Tanker 52 6[58]
53 Bunker Hill Engine 53 Grass 53, Rescue 53 6[59]
54 Southern Franklin Engine 54 Medic 54 Boats 54 6[60]
55 New Bethel Engine 55 Ladder 55 Tanker 55 4[61]

Notable incidents

Ramada Inn Air Crash and Fire

The Ramada Inn Air Crash and Fire was an aircraft accident that occurred at the Airport Ramada Inn in Indianapolis, Indiana when a United States Air Force pilot failed to reach the runway and the plane crashed into a nearby Ramada Inn.[62] On the morning of October 20, 1987, a United States Air Force A-7D-4-CV Corsair II, serial 69-6207, sustained some sort of engine failure about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of the city at around 31,000 feet.[63] The pilot survived after ejecting but 9 people were killed in the hotel when the aircraft smashed into the side of the building.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Quick Facts". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "2014 Budget" (PDF). City of Indianapolis. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Bodenhamer, David. The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (Indiana University Press, 1994) pg.774
  4. ↑ Bodenhamer pg.774
  5. ↑ "IFD History". IFD. 2005-05-13. Archived from the original on 2008-07-02. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  6. ↑ Bodenhamer pg.774, 775
  7. ↑ Bodenhamer pg.775, 776
  8. ↑ Bodenhamer pg.776
  9. ↑ Tuohy, John (February 11, 2014). "Township officials fume over Indianapolis fire merger bill". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  10. ↑ IFD Administration
  11. ↑ "Task Force Locations". FEMA. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "About Us". Indiana Task Force 1. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "About Us". Indianapolis EMS. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "IEMS 2013 Annual Report" (PDF). Indianapolis EMS. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Indianapolis Fire Apparatus". Indiana Fire Trucks. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "FAQs". Indianapolis EMS. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "Station 1". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Station 2". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "Station 3". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "Station 4". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "Station 5". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "Station 6". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  23. ↑ "Station 7". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  24. ↑ "Station 8". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  25. ↑ "Station 9". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  26. ↑ "Station 10". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  27. ↑ "Station 11". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  28. ↑ "Station 12". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  29. ↑ "Station 13". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  30. ↑ "Station 14". Indianafiretrucks.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  31. ↑ "Station 15". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  32. ↑ "Station 16". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  33. ↑ "Station 17". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  34. ↑ "Station 18". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  35. ↑ "Station 19". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  36. ↑ "Station 20". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  37. ↑ "Station 21". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  38. ↑ "Station 22". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  39. ↑ "Station 23". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  40. ↑ "Station 24". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  41. ↑ "Station 25". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  42. ↑ "Station 26". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  43. ↑ "Station 27". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  44. ↑ "Station 28". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  45. ↑ "Station 29". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  46. ↑ "Station 30". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  47. ↑ "Station 31". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  48. ↑ "Station 32". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  49. ↑ "Station 33". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  50. ↑ "Station 34". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  51. ↑ "Station 35". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  52. ↑ "Station 36". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  53. ↑ "Station 41". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  54. ↑ "Station 42". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  55. ↑ "Station 43". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  56. ↑ "Station 44". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  57. ↑ "Station 45". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  58. ↑ "Station 52". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  59. ↑ "Station 53". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  60. ↑ "Station 54". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  61. ↑ "Station 55". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  62. ↑ "Plane Crashes". Indianapolis Star. 2002-05-04. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  63. ↑ Indianapolis Star staff report, Indiana plane crashes Archived June 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine., The Indianapolis Star Online, May 1, 2002, accessed October 8, 2006.

Coordinates: 39°47′27.6″N 86°8′52.8″W / 39.791000°N 86.148000°W / 39.791000; -86.148000

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