Sunman, IN — The Sunman Rural Fire Department held a meeting for local government officials from Dearborn, Ripley, and Franklin counties on Monday, March 27.
The meeting provided an overview of the department, operations, and equipment, budget, and provided an opportunity for questions and discussion for those who attended.
The fire department contracts with parts of seven different townships that include Adams, Franklin, Jackson, Kelso, York, Highland, Butler, and the Town of Sunman to provide fire protection.
The department also receives funding from Dearborn County through revenue sharing. However, in 2020, Ripley County eliminated funding for all volunteer fire departments which has impacted fire department budgets.
“The cost of equipment, training, and supplies continues to rise so this meeting provided a means to discuss funding and sustainability of our operations,” said Tom Burns, Sunman Fire
Department Fire Chief. “The contracts from the townships and funding from Dearborn County are used for operating expenses such as building maintenance, fuel, utilities, equipment maintenance, and insurance, while donations and fundraisers help pay for capital expenditures, firefighters’ PPE, uniforms, and other miscellaneous expenses.”
Also discussed were the public safety programs the department offers and the recruiting efforts that are underway which include a cadet program for high school-aged students who are interested in the fire service.
The department covers approximately 94 square miles and responded to 141 calls for service in 2022.
The department would like to thank representatives from the Town of Sunman, Adams Township, Jackson Township, Butler Township, and Ripley County Council for attending.
They also want to thank the public for supporting the fire department with donations and attending fundraisers.
If you are interested in becoming a Sunman Fire Department volunteer or learning more about the high school cadet program, please contact Chief Tom Burns at [email protected].
(Sunman Rural Fire Department press release)
