Letter to the Elkhart Truth

In 1952, a group of men from the Concord Township formed a volunteer fire department after a local appliance store caught fire and burned without a way to put it out. For nearly 54 years, several hundred men and woman have given their time, money and effort to volunteer for their own community in that fire department. From the same location on C.R. 13, just north of Highway 33, we have served our friends, family, and neighbors in times of emergency and need.

On January 1, 2006, the service of Concord Township Fire Department, Inc. came to an end. The Township of Concord assume the responsibility of the administration of the department and brought the department under a governmental arm of the Township. The contracted organization of Concord Township Fire Department, inc. ceased to operate as a responding fire department and as of that date, all the volunteers and paid staff began to serve directly for and with the Township of Concord. Our service and our people are the same but the day to day affairs and responsibility for running the department are now under the control of the Concord Township.

Over the years the people of Concord Township have taken great care of our department. Equipment and money have been donated to keep our fire fighters in safe gear. Photo drives, fish fry's and bake sales have also been used to help us. Your simple notes of thanks have helped to remind us how much you have appreciated our efforts.

We have always tried to back to our community as well. The fire department has always been a big supporter of Concord High School athletics and the band. Our attendance at games and band events and escorting the athletic teams and band has been a standard part of our operations and an honor for our members, a number of whom attended Concord.

We have sponsored a Boy Scout Explorer post for teenagers who are interested in emergency services. We have donated AED's and taught CPR in our community, We have been involved in raising support and donations for Toys for Tots, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Child Abuse Prevention Services, American Red Cross, Faith Mission, Eagles Wing Ministries, Dunlap Lions Club, Big Brother/Big Sisters and other great organizations in our community. Your support has helped us to raise more funds in our boot drives than nearly any other organization in all of Michiana.

On behalf of all of the men and woman who have served or are currently serving our community, we say "Thank You" for allowing us the honor to serve for over a half century. We grew from a small volunteer department to a full fire-rescue-EMS department that now responds to nearly 1,200 calls per year. We anticipate further growth and expansion with the completion of Concord Township’s two new stations on C.R. 18/13 and on C.R. 26/9. We have always been there for our community and in the years ahead we look forward to continuing to be there for our neighbors. The honor has been ours.

Sincerely,
The men and women of Concord Township Fire Department, Inc.
(Original non-profit volunteer organization)