Williams Volunteer Fire Department Merges With Indian Creek Township Fire Department

(WILLIAMS) – The Williams Volunteer Fire Department has merged with Indian Creek Township.

The fire department was taken out of service in May by the Indiana Secretary of State for failing to file reports. Legally, each fire department must file an entity report regularly with the State of Indiana.

The department was placed back in service by the state in late June.

Williams Volunteer Fire Department facility

On August 2, the fire department held a public meeting stating the reasons for the department being taken out of service.

According to the department, they did not receive the four notices that they were not in compliance. The letters were sent to an individual who was no longer with the department.  

Department officials say that their organization is debt-free and owns all of its equipment and facilities located in Williams.

However, the department was facing another crisis the lack of volunteers to staff the department. At the time of the meeting, the department only had two active firefighters to respond to emergencies. If things didn’t improve they said that they would have to look at other options to provide fire coverage for the township.

On September 5, the Spice Valley Township Trustee notified the Lawrence County 9-1-1 Board that the Williams Volunteer Fire Department had merged with Indian Creek Township Fire Department.

Officials say that Indian Creek will now provide fire coverage for Spice Valley Township North.

Before the merge, Williams Volunteer Fire Department also covered Mitcheltree Township in Martin County. WBIW has left phone messages and email requests with Township Trustee Tammie Gore but she has not responded. It is currently unclear who will provide fire protection for Mitcheltree Township.

The Williams Volunteer Fire Department started in 1961 and was one of the first fire departments established in Lawrence County.

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