FROM THE CHIEF:
Pleasant Twp. Fire Dept. is a very progressive department, both in our approach to handling emergency incidents and our training. However, our number one priority is to the safety of our firefighters, medical first responders and the citizens we serve.
Pleasant Township is a small rural community of 56 square miles. We serve a population of approximately 2,550 people. We have automatic mutual aid agreements with the Town of North Manchester and surrounding townships.
We are supported with taxes through a township style government, which has a township trustee and three advisory board members. We also seek grants and were successful in 2004 of obtaining a FEMA Grant for $114,881.00. With this grant we were able to obtain 18 new self contained breathing apparatus, with spare bottles, rapid intervention kit and breathing air compressor. In 2008 we received another FEMA grant for $8,264.00 and with these funds were able to purchase additional communication equipment. We have also received several local grants, with the funds being used for communication equipment and extrication equipment.
We have a rooster of 17 firefighters and 2 medical first responders. Fifteen of our firefighters are also certified as medical first responders. In 1993, we added a full time employee to help improve our response times during the day.
In May of 2009, we took delivery of a new rescue truck, 705. With delivery of this truck we also took on a new mission for our township and now provide extrication with the use of hydraulic rescue tools. Our department completed a 24 hour State of Indiana extrication class on the use of these tools.
We are a very active department with an average run total of approximately 200 runs per year. These are almost equally divided between fire responses, vehicle accidents and medical emergencies. We train on a weekly basis, except for the week we have a monthly business meeting.
It has been my pleasure to serve with some of the most dedicated individuals ever over the years. We have faced many challenges together, sad times, when tears come to our eyes, to some of the most gut splitting laughing funs times you could ever want. It has also been my pleasure to serve as Fire Chief of Pleasant Twp. Fire Dept. since 1974.
Kent Trickle
Fire Chief