Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department (Fulton County, Indiana)

==History==
Up until 1945 Wayne Township and Grass Creek had to fight fires with a bucket brigade having no fire truck. In November 1945 the Wayne Township Trustee and citizens organized and made plans for a firefighting brigade and the purchase of a 1946 American fire Co. pumper. The pumper was originally housed at the former Wayne Township school shop room, then later in a bay built between Young's Grocery, and Cunningham's Garage in Grass Creek. Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department officially began October 9, 1947 during a Fire Prevention Week program. They received donations of $40 that night. A month later on November 6th, a group of volunteers met at Cunningham's garage and decided to meet the first Thursday of each month, elected officers, and a roster of caretakers for the truck and fire station. The meeting has been moved to Wednesday but has occurred continuously since then. Each year the department organized a program for Fire Prevention Week, held at the school gymnasium with food, the high school band, movies, and appropriate speakers. Large crowds attended and the material was often well received. In 1949 the department joined the County Fire Department Association. A local welder designed and made the first tanker - a tank on a shortened wagon bed at the cost of $44.00. A resuscitator was purchased in January of 1957. 
In 1960 it was decided a new fire station was needed but the estimates were so high the residents decided to build it themselves. Ground was broken September 1960, and through donations of labor, cash, and materials they build the fire station as a community project having only to pay for a couple of brick masons. The three bay station with a community meeting room was officially dedicated November 1961 having only cost approximately $5,000 or $6,000. In the spring of 1967 a second pumper was purchased. A Universal/Boyer with a 500GPM pump and 750 gallon booster tank. The original 1946 American was auctioned off to a group from a southern state. In 1974 a brush truck was purchased as well as several versions of tankers, mostly FD built, and other equipment over the years. 
In 1997 having purchased an additional brush truck and bigger tanker, an additional three bays were added to the firehouse. Firefighters took on the additional training and responsibility as EMTs and a rescue truck was added to further help the First Responders. An S&S tanker and pumper were purchased in 2003 through grants to upgrade equipment and were delivered in 2005. The 1967 Ford pumper was auctioned off at that time to a local resident who donated it to the Lions Club. He later helped deliver it to Guatemala where it was donated to local residents. A new brush truck was purchased in 2007 and the old 1974 brush truck was auctioned off to a local resident. In July 2009 Wayne Township received a $500,000 grant to upgrade and expand the fire station. Four larger bays were added with additional clearances for larger apparatus, bays were improved, and other enhancements sh allow for improved equipment storage. The community room and kitchen was increased in size to generate more use, and updates were made to meet current ADA standards throughout the building. Ground was broken October 2009, and while still under construction the building was completed enough to hold the Wayne Township primary election in May 2010. Official dedication of the improved building was in October 2010.
Several other equipment purchases were made to boost and enhance the capabilities of the department such as the jaws of life, hydraulic rams for extrication, updated hose and nozzles, a grain bin rescue tube, and countless radios and pagers that have evolved from the days of the "fire phone" and siren for alerting. 
==Department Profile==
Wayne Township operates a completely volunteer department from one centrally located station in Grass Creek. The rank structure is traditional, consisting of a Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, and First Responder Captain. These unpaid professional Firefighter and Emergency Medical Responders serve 700 residents in a 48 square mile area. 
==Apparatus Roster==
All pump/tank measurements are in US gallons.
===Fire Station 1, 7315 South State Road 17===
Built 1960, Expanded 1997 and 2009
:Engine 1 - 2004 International WorkStar 7400 / S&S (1250/1250) (SN#5342) 
:Tanker 2 - 1998 Volvo / 1999 Semo (250/2800) (Ex-Warren Township Fire Department)
:Tanker 3 - 2004 International WorkStar 7400 / S&S (1000/3300) (SN#5601) 
:Brush 4 - 2006 Ford F-350 4x4 / UPF (200/300)
:Rescue 5 - 1994 International 4900 / American Fire & Rescue walk-in (Ex-Rochester Fire Department (Indiana)
:Tanker 6- 1986 International / 197? FD-Built (150/1200)
==Retired Apparatus==
:1991 Ford E-350 Wheeled Coach Type III medical first responder (Ex-Fulton County EMS) (Sold to Macy Volunteer Fire Department)
:1974 Ford F-250 brush (250/250)
:1967 Ford F-500 / Universal - Boyer pumper (500/750)
:1946 Chevrolet / American Fire Co. pumper (250/400)
==Station Map==
Category:Fulton County, Indiana
Category:Indiana departments operating American Fire & Rescue apparatus
Category:Indiana departments operating S&S apparatus
Category:Indiana departments operating UPF apparatus
Category:Former operators of American apparatus
Category:Former operators of Boyer apparatus