Springfield Township Fire Department Volunteers to Assist in Hectic Times

springfield-township-fireWhile all those who serve as firefighters should be considered heroes, there’s something special about those who do it for the sole purpose of helping others.

Volunteer fire departments are relied on in smaller municipalities nationwide, with some being located right here in La Porte County.

“It’s just the need we feel to help people,” said Steve Marvel, chief of the Springfield Township Fire Department. "Everyone on our department wants to be able to help those in need.”

Marvel has been a member of the volunteer organization, which has received recognition from the state of Indiana over the years for some of the calls they have completed.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to help the community, and there is a bit of an adrenaline rush behind going into a situation at the worst possible moment,” said Chris Small, who has been a firefighter in Springfield Township for five years. “Being a firefighter means you are in a tight brotherhood. We could go to any station in the world and if they know we are firefighters, they will treat us like family.”

The Springfield Township Department covers an area from Range Road to the east, the Michigan state-line to the north, 600 W. to the west and 500 N. on the south. While mutual aid is provided from similar departments such as Coolspring, Center, Kankakee and New Buffalo townships as well as volunteer departments in the town of Michiana Shores and city of New Buffalo; since volunteers with the Springfield department may find themselves at work during fire calls, Small said the notion is that “if you’re available and you hear a call, you are out there.”

“Everybody tries to run every call they possibly can,” Marvel added.

The newest addition to the 23-member Springfield Township Fire Department is a state-of-the-art, “Tanker 1955” truck, which holds 3,000 gallons, has front steering and a pumper/tank.

“This is our source of water, especially in the rural areas we serve,” said Robert Henry, a six-year member of the department.

Henry added that many members of the department are EMT trained and that the mutual provided by other departments is reciprocated by themselves.

“We represent this department,” he said. “We’ll go anywhere around here that has a call and we rely on others to do the same for us.”

Marvel said there have been so many instances of rewarding moments since he joined the department in 1986, and that just recently a group of Springfield firefighters was able to “save animals in a structure fire, and most of the house too.”

“Those are the moments you remember,” he said.

More volunteers sought

The Springfield Township Volunteer Fire Department is always in need of more volunteers. Residing in or around Springfield Township and passing the state’s basic class are requirements, Marvel said.

Small added that the current firefighters vote on bringing on each new member and will help with the training process.