CLARK COUNTY, Ind. — In an emotional meeting Wednesday, dozens of people in Utica Township in Clark County said they want a better fire service.
It comes as Clark County is considering adding a second ambulance service to help New Chapel EMS cover the county, while it struggles with staff shortages. New Chapel Fire and EMS currently has one fire contract remaining; to cover the Utica Township Fire Protection District.
"We have got to work together somehow to fund what we've been paying taxes for a quarter mile down the road," one resident said. "A 24/7 fire protection for Utica, not an ambulance garage. Thank you."
New Chapel CEO Matt Owen said the fire protection district doesn't pay them enough for a 24/7 fire service, but if that changes, he's happy to provide it. The Utica Township Fire Protection District is contracted to pay the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Dept. -- doing business as New Chapel Fire/EMS -- $141,000 per year, but board members said they only paid $50,000 last year.
Owen said because of this current funding model, they have to pay their employees with the Clark County ambulance contract and ambulance billing, and they will make EMS runs their priority.
"And the current fire district doesn't support [a 24/7 fire department], $141,000 per year doesn't support the amount of firefighters you need," Owen said.
Owen said they have 19 employees stationed at 5820 Utica Pike who are dual certified to make ambulance runs and respond to fires. He said if a fire were to spark while all employees were on an EMS run, they would have to finish the EMS run before responding to the fire.
"We're beyond the days of being territorial and being worried about who is going to be to the emergency first,” Owen said. “If there's an emergency, we need someone to get to the scene to protect life and property. And it doesn't matter whose name is on the side of the truck."
The fire district board members said they are bringing in Jeffersonville Fire next month to hear their proposal on how they would cover Utica. New Chapel said it has responded to 13 fire-related calls in Utica this year.
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