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 168,131 (2017)
Employees 1,170 (2017)
Annual budget $145,068,571 (2014)
Staffing Career
Fire chief Ernest Malone
EMS level ALS
IAFF 416
Facilities and equipment[1]
Battalions 7
Stations 43
Engines 43
Trucks 19
Tillers 1
Platforms 16
Squads 4
Rescues 6
Ambulances Provided by IEMS
Tenders 12
HAZMAT 6
USAR 3
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, Mayor Samuel D. Maxwell and 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

Since 2007, several the fire departments in the eight townships in Marion County other than Center Township that were not previously part of the IFD coverage area have been absorbed by IFD. As of 2016, five of the eight township fire departments have merged with IFD:[9]

The three townships retaining their own fire departments as of 2016 are all on the west side of Marion County.

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

911 Ambulance services in the city of Indianapolis are provided by Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS), a division of the Health an Hospital Corporation of Marion County. In 2010 the Indianapolis Fire Department elected to discontinue the operation of the transporting ambulance assets acquired from the consolidation of Washington, Lawrence, and Franklin Townships. [Wishard Ambulance Service ]][13] absorbed the civilian staff released from the decommissioned IFD ambulances and in December of 2010 the newly enlarged Wishard Ambulance Service was rebranded as Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services. As of 2018 IEMS operates 42 ambulances, with 32 of them deployed during peak hours.[14] Fourteen of these ambulances are co-located at IFD fire stations.[15] While IEMS is not a part of the Indianapolis Fire Department, the two agencies work closely together in daily operations and long term EMS system planning. IEMS also provides IFD's EMS operations educational and logistical support. Members of IEMS may choose to join the IAFF Union 416.[16]

Stations and apparatus

Fire Station # 32, located at 6330 Guildford Ave.
Fire Station Number Neighborhood Engine Company Ladder, Tiller Ladder or Platform Ladder Company Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services Medic Ambulance Specialized Unit Chief Unit Battalion
1 HaughvilleEngine 1Ladder 1Tactical 17[17]
2 MitthoeferEngine 2Medic 24[18]
3 Fountain SquareEngine 3Battalion 55[19]
4 GreenbriarEngine 4Ladder 42[20]
5 Methodist HospitalEngine 5Medic 5Tactical 5Battalion 11[21]
6 NoraEngine 6Ladder 62[22]
7 Renaissance PlaceEngine 7Tiller Ladder 7Squad 7, Tactical 7, Boat 7Safety 47[23]
8 MillersvilleEngine 83[24]
9 CastletonEngine 9Ladder 9Medic 9Tactical 92[25]
10 BrightwoodEngine 10Platform Ladder 10Squad 10Battalion 33[26]
11 Irish HillEngine 11EDO South5[27]
12 Crooked CreekEngine 12Medic 121[28]
13 West DowntownEngine 13Platform Ladder 13Hazmat 13, Squad 13Battalion 77[29]
14 Kenwood ForrestEngine 14Ladder 14Medic 99Tactical 14, Squad 14, Boats 141[30]
15 Near EastsideEngine 15Platform Ladder 155[31]
17 Avelon HillsEngine 17Medic 17Battalion 22[32]
18 HawthorneEngine 18Medic 18Air Unit 187[33]
19 Near Southwestside "The Valley"Engine 19Platform Ladder 19Decon 19, Foam 197[34]
20 Little FlowerEngine 20Ladder 203[35]
21 ClearwaterEngine 21Medic 21EDO NorthSafety 22[36]
22 Fall CreekEngine 22Platform Ladder 223[37]
23 University HeightsEngine 23Battalion 66[38]
24 DevingtonEngine 24Medic 243[39]
25 IrvingtonEngine 25Air Unit 253[40]
26 LindenwoodEngine 266[41]
27 BrooksideEngine 27Ladder 275[42]
28 GeistEngine 28Boat 282[43]
29 Garfield ParkEngine 29Ladder 29Air Unit 29, Squad 29 5[44]
30 EagledaleEngine 30Ladder 301[45]
31 FairgroundsEngine 31Ladder 31Decon 31, Air Unit 311[46]
32 Broad RippleEngine 322[47]
33 Far WestsideEngine 331[48]
34 EdgewoodEngine 34Ladder 34Tactical 34, MIRV 346[49]
35 Far SouthsideEngine 35Platform Ladder 356[50]
36 Geist EastEngine 36Ladder 362[51]
41 Washington SquareEngine 41Medic 414[52]
42 South Warren TownshipEngine 42Medic 42Tanker 424[53]
43 EastgateEngine 43Platform Ladder 43Tactical 43Battalion 44[54]
44 Eastside, ShadelandistanEngine 44Ladder 44Medic 44HazMat 44Golf cart

44

 4[55]
45 Far EastsideEngine 45Medic 984[56]
52 ActonEngine 52Medic 52 Tanker 526[57]
53 Bunker HillEngine 53Grass 53, Tactical 536[58]
16 Southern Franklin TownshipEngine 16Medic 16 6[59]
55 WanamakerEngine 55Ladder 55Tanker 554[60]

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.[61] 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.[62] 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 17". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  33. ↑ "Station 18". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  34. ↑ "Station 19". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015. http://fox59.com/2017/01/09/indianapolis-names-the-valley-as-neighborhood-of-the-month-for-january-2017/
  35. ↑ "Station 20". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  36. ↑ "Station 21". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  37. ↑ "Station 22". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  38. ↑ "Station 23". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  39. ↑ "Station 24". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  40. ↑ "Station 25". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  41. ↑ "Station 26". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  42. ↑ "Station 27". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  43. ↑ "Station 28". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  44. ↑ "Station 29". Indianapolis Fire Department. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  45. ↑ "Station 30". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  46. ↑ "Station 31". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  47. ↑ "Station 32". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  48. ↑ "Station 33". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  49. ↑ "Station 34". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  50. ↑ "Station 35". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  51. ↑ "Station 36". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  52. ↑ "Station 41". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  53. ↑ "Station 42". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  54. ↑ "Station 43". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  55. ↑ "Station 44". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  56. ↑ "Station 45". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  57. ↑ "Station 52". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  58. ↑ "Station 53". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  59. ↑ "Station 54". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  60. ↑ "Station 55". Indianapolis Fire Department. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  61. ↑ "Plane Crashes". Indianapolis Star. 2002-05-04. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  62. ↑ 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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