Supportive Services
Supportive Services
The supportive services branch of the Fire Department encompasses five divisions. These divisions are: Building & Grounds, Technical Services, Community Risk Reduction (Fire Prevention/Investigation), Training, and Vehicle Maintenance. Each of these divisions play an important part in the ongoing daily operations of the fire department.
The City currently operates seven engine companies, three ladder trucks, and five ambulances across the City on any given day. The Gary Fire Department is housed in buildings across the city. The city's oldest station, station #3, is almost 100 years old the newest station located at 4959 Pennsylvania will open 2020 housing station 5 . Maintaining these facilities is our team of personnel from Buildings and Grounds
In 2019, the Gary Fire Department provided 21,809 calls for service. These are EMS, Fire, HAZMAT and any other special calls. 6,073 were fire calls, and 16,909 were EMS. The EMS division provides emergency and non-emergency medical services to the citizens of Gary and those visiting our community. These services will be delivered with a commitment to compassion equality and respect.
The Gary Fire Department (Fire Prevention Bureau) is under the leadership of the Chief fire inspector. It is staffed by sworn personnel who are dedicated in preventing or reducing fire losses and ensuring compliance with applicable city and state code and ordinances.
The goal of the CRR is to protect the city from fire hazards by providing programs that adhere to hazard mitigation public education and fire regulations.
To achieve this goal the CRR responsibilities include and are not limited to
• Conducting fire safety inspections at schools, business, high rise buildings, health care facilities and public assembly spaces.
• Public education and awareness programs
• Conducting inspections of new construction, tenant improvements, and automatic fire protection systems
All modern business have grasped technology and have become dependent on computers. The fire department likewise has followed suit. The Technical Services Division sets up and maintains the computer network that the administration of the department uses to maintain daily operations. In addition, the Technical Service Division provides record management to meet reporting requirements by the State of Indiana's EMS Commission and State Fire Marshal. The Technical Service Division programs install and repairs the radio communications, and will provide emergency operation center, in local events and disaster operations.
The primary mission of the Training and Research Division is to provide on-going training, education and certification to fire service personnel necessary to insure a competent, efficient and effective emergency response organization. The Training Division is staffed by a chief of training drillmaster and department personnel who are State of Indiana instructors who assist with academy instruction and continuing education of the department.
The Training Division also encompasses the EMS Division, staffed by an EMS director and training coordinator. They are responsible for training new recruits to become State of Indiana certified EMT’s and also provide continuing education to the department's EMS personnel.
The Fire Academy is located at 2702 W 35th Ave.
Lastly, the department has over 40 vehicles in its fleet. The Vehicle Maintenance Division is responsible for maintaining this fleet in ready to respond condition. The Vehicle Maintenance Department is located in City Gary Vehicle Maintenance building on west 11th Ave.
dy to respond condition. The Vehicle Maintenance Department is located in City Gary Vehicle Maintenance building on west 11th ave.
The heads of each Supportive Branch of The Gary Fire Department are as follows:
Buildings and Grounds - Assistant Chief Carl Oren
Drill Master - Chief Kent Whitt
Technical Services - Assistant Chief Garry Kotvasz
Vehicle Maintenance - Jason Ketchem
Fire Prevention/Investigation - Assistant Chief Dwayne Hull
Emergency Medical Services - Assistant Chief James Morris
Training Assistant - Chief Robert Grady
Dive Master - Captain Dave Evans
