Career crew. Volunteer roots.
Career firefighters and volunteers, side by side out of one station on Wea School Road. Fire, rescue, and medical response for the whole township, around the clock.
Since 1968.
Before 1968, Wea Township had no fire protection at all. Forty neighbors changed that. Read the full story
- Before 1968Nobody was coming
The township funded no fire department and had no contracts with one. A fire might bring help from Dayton or Stockwell. Usually, no help came.
- 1968The township says yes
Wea Township establishes the Wea Township Volunteer Fire Department. Ground is broken on the station that December.
- April 1969Forty volunteers
About 40 volunteers organize and elect Vincent Faustich, a 17-year Lafayette Civil Defense veteran, as the first chief. On April 19 the department joins the county firemen’s association and its mutual aid agreement.
- July 7, 1969The first run
With a grass rig as the only truck in service, 35 firemen answer a car fire at the Windmere Motel.
- Dec 1969Three trucks in service
The pumper and tanker arrive, and the department opens the station to the township for its first open house.
- 1970sThe station grows
Three bays are added to the front. Surplus trucks are converted into two tankers, and chief officers get portable radios while calls still come in on the fire phone.
- Late 1970sMedical calls begin
Wea and Wabash become two of the first townships in the county to provide first responder care, running rescue gear on grass rig 403.
- 1982First new truck
The department buys its first brand-new apparatus, an FMC engine numbered 406.
- 1985A dedicated rescue
Rescue 405 enters service and the old Dodge power wagon is retired. Nomex gear and modern helmets replace canvas coats.
- 1988New tanker
An S&S tanker replaces the old GMC, which was destroyed in an accident.
- June 25, 2006Deputy Chief Steven Smith
Checking a lightning-struck home for occupants on 700 South, Deputy Chief Smith fell through the floor and died of his injuries later that day. He is the department’s first line of duty death.
- 2007 & 2012Rescue 41 and Brush 41
A Freightliner M2 rescue and a Ford F-550 brush truck join the fleet.
- 2023Engine 41 and Tanker 41
Two near-twin Spartan apparatus arrive together, putting 4,000 gallons of water on the first alarm.
- 2024A combination department
The township hires a full-time chief and begins adding career staffing alongside the volunteers.
- TodayStill answering
Career Firefighter/EMTs and volunteers run more than 600 calls a year for a township that now has five schools, up from one in 1968.