After 15 years of fish fries, grant writing and pleas to political authorities, the new Campbell Township Volunteer Fire Department Station 11 building is finally open — and ready for the business of saving lives and property.
The new fire station is located near the intersection U.S. 50 and County Road 425E, just across from Brush Creek Elementary School. It is at the entrance of the road that leads to the nearby Muscatatuck Urban Training Center and the Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center.
The previous fire station was located at the edge of Butlerville on U.S. 50. Built in 1961, and only 2,400 square feet in area, the building was not big enough to house all the fire departments trucks. It did not have space for training exercises, classes or meetings of the 15 to 20 members of the department. The old station did not heat properly and it also had a problem with drainage of rain water, often forcing the firemen to stand in a layer of water when working in the building, Campbell Township Fire Chief Don Biehle said.
The new 5,000-square-foot building has five bay areas for the housing of trucks and equipment. There is enough space in the building to provide for offices, training exercises, classroom work, a kitchen and social room. There is enough room on the surrounding outside property to allow for additional training activities and community social events, Biehle said.
“My favorite thing about this building is that it is all paid for, every bit of it. There is nothing left for the county taxpayer to pick-up, and that was accomplished by a whole lot of effort by a whole lot of people,” the fire chief said.
The station cost about $800,000 to build, Biehle said.
“I think a lot of people thought it was just a pipe dream on our part because no volunteer fire department could raise that kind of money. I think that is why we all felt such pride when it was completed. It was a group effort,” Biehle said.
Efforts to build the new fire station began with the volunteer fire department’s community fish fries, chili dinners, yard sales, tractor pulls and other small fund raisers.
“Together with private donations, we raised about $50,000 that way. That isn’t enough to even begin building a project like this, but it is enough to put some money in the bank to show we are serious about the project,” Biehle said.
As the years passed, trust developed in the volunteer firefighters’ goal to build a new firehouse, and grants began coming in. For example, Campbell Township Trustee Mike Murphy allocated $60,000, and the Jennings County Council gave an additional $110,000.
Eventually, the fire department secured $500,000 in state funding.
Another large donation came from Purdue University, which donated the 8.2 acres of land where the firehouse now sits.
“We would have preferred to keep the fire station right in Butlerville, near our old fire station, but there was no property available. We are still close enough to town to get anywhere there fast. Of course, we are also very near the school and just down the road from MUTC if they need us,” Biehle said.
Morale in the 15-member, all-volunteer fire department has increased greatly since the new fire stationed opened about two weeks ago, Biehle said.
“Everyone came in to help us get ready for the grand opening ceremony…. Now we have enough room to have meetings and wash the trucks inside. We couldn’t do any of that in the old building. Already we have had four new people apply to join the department,” Biehl said.
Fundraising will continue, the fire chief said. Kitchen appliances and office furniture still need to be added, but the first priorities for additions to the new fire station will include a $10,000 generator in case of community emergencies, proper floor coverings and black-top for the parking lot, Biehle said. Landscaping is on the list, too.
So, too, is connecting with the community.
“As soon as the weather breaks, don’t be surprised if you hear about a day for everyone to come out and have a day of fun here at the new place,” Biehle said.
