A GIS map showing the location of Warsaw/Wayne Township Fire Territory Station 3.

A desire to deliver equal service to all residents of Warsaw and Wayne Township is becoming a reality.

The Warsaw/Wayne Fire Territory was formed in 2009 and all residents serviced by the fire territory are paying the same tax rate. But response time to the southern part of the township can take up to nine minutes, if a call is in the middle of the night, due to less traffic. This response time doesn’t take into account detours necessary if trains are blocking either of the two tracks running through town.

Should a train be blocking a crossing the response time could go up to 15 minutes. Those minutes could mean the loss of a life or property.

Though construction of Station 3 has no time schedule, the property has been purchased and site work completed. The new station will be built on CR 200S, just off County Farm Road, next to Warsaw Community Church.

WWFT Fire Chief Mike Brubaker stated, “We are still in the planning stages. We have a concept on paper.” A feasibility study will be done to provide a ball park number for the construction cost, staffing and tax impact. The study will also look at traffic and noise impacts.

The new station will not be fancy, yet it will ascetically fit in with the homes in Eagle Crest and the church. “It will be pleasing on the eye and we’ll make sure Eagle Crest (residents) and the church are pleased with the end result,” said Brubaker.

The goal is to have a station with three truck bays to house an engine, eventually a tanker and a reserve engine. There will be also be living quarters (kitchen, living/dining room, bedrooms and laundry room) and storage area. The station will be staffed by three shifts of four individuals working 24 hours on, 48 hours off. This means hiring 12 additional firefighters.

An engine for the station was purchased and has been used as a reserve truck. “There will be enough life in it to get (that station) started,” said Brubaker.

The building of a third station could also mean better insurance rates for residents in the township. Currently, due to requirements from the Insurance Services Organization, residents in the southern portion of the township have a 9 rating, the highest available.

Those in town and within closer response time of the two existing stations have a 4/4y rating, (4 meaning a hydrant is close by and 4y denotes water has to be hauled to the scene) a better opportunity for lower insurance rates. It is speculated with the existence of the third station, those residents will receive the same rating as those elsewhere in the township — a 4y rating.

“We want to provide the same option as someone within the city,” said Brubaker, noting the several minute response time. “To offer that to them we need another station and staffing to get the same coverage.”

The fire department no longer just puts out fires. “Eighty-five to 95 percent of our calls are medical runs,” he said noting firefighters are also basic EMT’s, with a number of firefighters receiving advanced training in technical, high angle, trench, confined space and collapse rescues. “Some day we will have advanced life support engines,” he stated noting that is looking 10 to 15 years away.