About Us
The fire and rescue service is one of the most diverse and challenging professions known today. It is this diversity that inspires most men and women to enter the service – both as volunteers and full time employees. Imagine having to train to prepare yourself to cope with situations which range from fighting structure fires to childbirth to hazardous chemical spills to heart attacks and almost any imaginable emergency situation in between. This diversity is coupled with the fact that these skills may be needed at any time of day, seven days a week; in any kind of weather, and very often under potentially stressful and emotional circumstances. These factors contribute to our profession being personally rewarding.
The Prairie Township Volunteer Fire Department (PTVFD) is here for two basic purposes. The first is to prevent fire or medical emergencies from occurring. This is done through fire prevention and fire safety education. Secondly, we are here to prepare ourselves to control fire or medical emergencies when prevention fails. This is done through education, training, pre-incident planning, state-of-the-art equipment, and more training.
Fire-rescue work is not for everyone. One needs more than just a desire to help people. You need courage and dedication, assertiveness and a willingness to learn new skills and face new challenges. The fire and rescue service is not for the meek or timid or for those who lose control of their emotions during times of crisis. Our service is one which calls on its members to perform hot, sweaty, dirty, strenuous work, often in uncertain and hazardous environments. The personal rewards and satisfaction received from the fire and rescue service are often beyond description. There is a sense of accomplishment after controlling a structure fire, joy and elation when a child is born, compassion for accident victims, and fulfillment in teaching fire safety. The list could go on and on.
The Prairie Township Volunteer Fire Department was organized in the 1930’s and formally incorporated on April 10, 1938. PTVFD owns and operates 4 apparatus at our station at 104 W Main St. Mount Summit, In 47361.
Prairie Township’s fleet of apparatus includes 1 pumper, 1 tanker, 1 BLS Rescue, an off road brush-fire truck. Several members of the department maintain the apparatus and ensure that the fleet is ready to respond when needed.
As one of the largest volunteer fire departments in the County, PTVFD has an active volunteer membership of over 22 members. Operations are led by a Fire Chief, with support from a Deputy Fire Chief and a Assistant Fire Chief, Captains, Firefighters, and EMT’s.
PTVFD answers approximately 300 calls for emergency service a year, 75% of them being Emergency Medical Services (EMS) related. With a “first due” area of approximately 40.71 square miles, PTVFD protects a population of over 3,300 citizens. The township includes 2 cities and 3 unincorporated towns, numerous businesses, 1 state park of 2,680 acres, 1 multi-level prison facility with a maximum of 2,416 offenders and over 400 employees.
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