(MITCHELL) – During National Fire Prevention Week WBIW will highlight the fire departments who serve their local communities throughout the week.
The Marion Township Rural Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1972. Today, the fire department has 37 active members with seven apparatus to respond to a variety of emergencies that occur.
The department has 2 engines, 1 tanker, 3 squad vehicles, and 1 ladder truck.
The ladder truck was just recently purchased to reach difficult places at the Spring Mill Inn.
Marion Township averages more than 500 calls a year for over the last five years.
The fire department serves both Marion and Bono Townships in southern Lawrence County.
Marion Township holds a few fundraisers throughout the year which include the concessions at the 4-H Fair track, a goods tent at the Persimmon Festival, and a Halloween Safe Stop at the fire station for the last three years.
Marion Township is committed to the health and safety of its residents.
This year, Marion Township was awarded a grant through the Lawrence County Community Foundation to provide smoke detectors to residents in Marion Township.
The Marion Township purchased more than 245 smoke detectors from ACE Hardware in Mitchell. The smoke alarms have a twenty-year life span.
“We will try to distribute the smoke detectors through the month of October during the fire prevention month. Due to COVID-19 the department has developed a plan to distribute them,” said Marion Township Assistant Fire Chief Dan Fountain.
In 2019, 87 Hoosiers died in house fires. Almost three out of five fire deaths resulted from fires where there were no working smoke detectors.
Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms provide the entire household an early warning of fire.
In fact, a home with a properly placed and working smoke alarms doubles the likelihood of survival. Help keep everyone you love by learning how to install an maintain smoke alarms.
- Alarms should be replaced eight to ten years. Over time their sensors become less sensitive
- Smoke alarms should be tested every month to make sure the batteries are still working
- In smoke alarms that use traditional batteries, batteries should be changed every year to make sure the alarm will continue to work.
- Install smoke alarms on every level, in every sleeping area and outside every bedroom of a building
For more information about the Marion, Township Volunteer Fire Department go to:https://mariontwpfire.com/members.html
