According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 94 firefighters died while on duty last year. This included 38 career firefighters, 49 volunteer firefighters, and 7 wildland firefighters. This alarming information highlights the danger our professional and volunteer firefighters routinely face on the job. Fortunately, Indiana is stepping up to make sure the men and women in our fire service receive improved training and equipment.
Indiana is adding five new fire safety training locations around the state, including Rushville. The other training facilities will be in Chrisney, Washington Township in Daviess County, Hartford City and Paoli.
During the 2023 legislative session, I supported the state directing over $7 million in state funding to construct these new firefighter training facilities in Indiana. Last year, construction started on four other training facilities that are set to be operational this summer.
These new facilities will provide high-quality training structures within 30 miles or 45 minutes of all fire departments to eliminate training deserts. Currently, some departments are more than 30 miles away from a training site. Traveling long distances for training can be tremendously difficult for volunteer firefighters who are managing full-time jobs and family commitments.
These facilities help firefighters receive updated training and best practices to stay up to speed on advancements in equipment, buildings, vehicles and more. The training towers will be equipped with live-burn capabilities for realistic training.
We know that volunteer departments often operate with limited budgets and struggle to replace outdated equipment. That's why I also supported an additional $10 million in state funding to replace personal protective equipment like new turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatuses for volunteer firefighters. As a result, 66 volunteer fire departments across the state received 940 complete personal protective equipment sets to replace their outdated gear. Locally, Dunreith, Liberty Township, Prairie Township and Straughn volunteer fire departments received new PPE. Click here to learn more.
In 2023, I supported a new law allowing counties to adopt a resolution for one or more township or volunteer fire departments, or fire districts and territories, to receive up to .05% of their public safety local income tax. This can be a great option for sustainable funding for fire service and I hope more counties consider it.
Firefighters have one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs, and their training and protective equipment could make the difference between life and death. I'll continue to support the career and volunteer firefighters who put their lives on the line to protect our local communities. If you have thoughts on this issue or need assistance navigating state government, please contact me by visiting in.gov/h54 or call 317-232-9600.
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State Rep. Cory Criswell (R-Middletown) represents House District 54,
which includes portions of Hancock, Henry, Rush and Shelby counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
