Griffith Volunteer Fire Department

(Courtesy of the Griffith Historical Society) Above are volunteer members of the Griffith Fire Department and their "1921 Red Speedwagon" ladder truck. The building in the background is the Town Hall.

The Griffith Fire Department is proud to present… Get Alarmed Griffith! According to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), 52% of residential fire fatalities occur in homes without smoke detectors. According to the USFA (United States Fire Administration), carbon monoxide poisoning claims more than 500 lives each year and sends another 15,000 to hospital emergency rooms for treatment. If you are a Town of Griffith resident and do not own a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide detector or your detectors are more than 10 years old, it's time to Get Alarmed. Contact Fire Prevention Coordinator Lt. Don Hill at 838-3309 or email at fireprevention@sbcglobal.net for details about how you can receive your free smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector and Get Alarmed Griffith! This program is courtesy of the Griffith Fire Department with funding through FEMA. Click HERE to download a larger version of the above candle safety flyer in Adobe Acrobat pdf format which you can print.

The Fire Department purchased their first engine in the early 1920s, a red Speedwagon ladder truck.

Much of the current equipment was purchased with proceeds from the Fireman's Dance and Raffle which was an event held annually into the early 1990s. Since then, new equipment has been acquired under lease-purchase agreements.

Current equipment includes:

1 Mack 2000 g.p.m. (gallons per minute) pumper
1 Mack 1500 g.p.m. pumper
1 American LaFrance 1500 g.p.m. pumper
1 Pierce 105 foot Aerial Ladder/1500 g.p.m. pumper
2 E-One 75 foot Aerial Ladders/1500 g.p.m. pumpers
1 Seagrave 1500 g.p.m. pumper
3 Chevrolet Brush Trucks
2 Chevrolet Suburban command vehicles

Above is the Pierce 105 foot Aerial Ladder/1500 gallons per minute pumper.

Griffith has three fire stations which are strategically located in the North, Central, and South areas of the town. Fire Station number 2 is located at 509 South Broad Street (photo below), near the Soccer field and South Park, and was constructed in 1959 by the Fire Department volunteers. Station number 3 is north of Ridge Road at 1600 North Indiana Street and was built in 1976. Fire Station number 1 (photo below) was constructed in 1983, and is located at 130 North Lafayette Street, directly behind the Town Hall and Police Department.

George J. Thiel is the Fire Chief and was appointed in 1983.

Prior to Chief Thiel, other Fire Chiefs and their dates of service were:

H. B. Richie (1920)
Joseph Miller (1921-1924)
Daniel Walters (1925-1929 and 1933)
Robert McFarland (1930-1932 and 1937-1948)
Nelson Mandenach (1934-1936)
Leo Miller (1948-1951)
William Kane, Sr. (1952-1980)
Elmer Plohg (1981-1982)

The staffing level for the Fire Department is about 50 members, and all are volunteers. All members are Firefighter I/II certified in the State of Indiana and the department is also certifed in Hazmat (Hazardous Material) rescue and firefighting.

To become a member of the Griffith Volunteer Fire Department, an individual must be a Griffith resident between the ages of 18-35 and must fill out an application form. When there is an opening, applicants must pass a medical (physical) exam as well as an interview. New volunteers are placed on one year probation.

The Main Fire Station Number 1 was built in 1983 and is located at 130 North Lafayette Street, directly behind the Town Hall and Police Station. Station number 2 is located at 509 South Broad Street and was constructed by the Fire Department volunteers in 1959. Fire Station 3 (not pictured) is located North of Ridge Road at 1600 North Indiana Street and was built in 1976.

The Emergency Management, Fire and Building Services, and Public Safety Training Foundation was created by the Indiana General Assembly as a legal entity into which the state will deposit monies collected from the sale of the Hoosier Safety license plate. This not-for-profit foundation is one of the first of its kind in the country. Money raised by the Foundation will be divided into: 22.5% for emergency management; 22.5% for fire services; 22.5% for building services; 22.5% for emergency medical; and 10% in a stewardship fund to promote the sale of the license plate. By purchasing the Hoosier Safety license plate, you can help protect your loved ones, your neighbors and yourself while declaring your dedication to Hoosier Safety. Funds will be used for programs such as: preschool Fire Safety, the SAFE KIDS Coalition, the Hoosier Burn Camp, as well as equipment and training needs. The Town of Griffith Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency (EMA) may receive funds from the Foundation through application and grants. The Hoosier Safety license plate is $40 (in addition to your normal vehicle registration and excise fees). Click HERE for more info at the State of Indiana website.