Indiana Fire Association, 501 Philadelphia Street, Indiana, PA (2026)

06/20/2026

It’s another beautiful day in downtown Indiana, and our members will be at the station with tickets available for our 2025 Cadillac CT4 Sport raffle.

Just pull onto the apron, hop out, and grab your chance to drive away in a brand-new Cadillac. While you’re here, bring the kids along! They can check out the fire trucks, climb in the driver’s seat, push a few buttons (the ones we’re allowed to let them push 😅), and see what it’s like to be a firefighter for a few minutes.

Not interested in a Cadillac? That’s okay. Come down anyway, stretch your legs, enjoy a walk around town, and let the kids burn off some energy while you talk with the crew.

And let’s be honest… if you win the Cadillac, you’ll have a much cooler story than, “I spent my Saturday mowing grass.”

We’ll be around for a while today. Stop by, say hello, and take a chance on a new ride. Good luck! 🍀🚒

🚗🚒🍀

06/17/2026

We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of our community.

Whether it’s purchasing a chance at the Cadillac raffle, making a financial contribution, sharing a kind word, or dropping off a case of drinking water, every gesture reminds us that the community stands behind its firefighters. Sometimes we get caught up in the day-to-day operations and forget to publicly say thank you, so we wanted to take a moment to recognize a family that continually goes above and beyond.

Yesterday, we received a generous donation of water and Gatorade. That alone would have been greatly appreciated, but the donors weren’t finished. Along with the drinks came two large boxes packed with snacks for our members.

A bottle of water after a call is always welcome, but after burning calories at a fire scene, training, or missing a meal because the pager interrupted dinner, a quick snack can be just as appreciated.

We would like to sincerely thank the Beatty Family, Rustic Ranch, Beatty’s Club Lambs, Greg, Jamie, Stetson, and Brooks for their generosity and continued support of not only the Indiana Fire Association, but many organizations throughout our community. They are not looking for recognition, but they certainly deserve it. They lead by example and demonstrate what community support truly looks like.

Their kindness also serves as a reminder that supporting your local fire department doesn’t always require a large donation. A case of water, sports drinks, snacks, or even a simple thank you can go a long way. IFA may not be your local fire department, but we can guarantee that the firefighters serving your community would appreciate those gestures just as much as we do.

To the Beatty Family: thank you for your support, your generosity, and for setting an example that others can follow. We are grateful to have people like you in our community.

🚒❤️🥤🍪

06/17/2026

Ever wonder why firefighters spend so much time rolling up hose?

The video shows one of our members rolling our bumper line into what’s called a double donut roll. There are numerous ways to roll, pack, and load fire hose, and every department develops methods that work best for their apparatus, staffing, and response area.

We use the double donut roll on our bumper line because it fits neatly into the limited space of the bumper well and deploys quickly and efficiently when needed.

Over the years, IFA crews have experimented with many different hose loads. Currently, our preconnected attack lines are loaded as 200-foot double-stack Minute Man loads. When packed correctly, they deploy rapidly, stretch easily, and help reduce kinks when the line is charged.

Just another example of the many skills firefighters must learn and continually train on. While rolling hose may not be the most glamorous part of the job, getting water to the seat of the fire quickly can make all the difference.

Are our hose loads the best? Probably depends on who you ask. If you put 10 firefighters in a room, you’ll likely get 12 opinions on hose loads. We aren’t saying our way is better than anyone else’s, but it’s a system that works very well for our trucks and our crews.

And besides, if firefighters didn’t argue about hose loads, we’d have to find something else to debate at the station.

🚒🧯

06/17/2026

🐾🚒 **Phoenix at Work... and Play** 🚒🐾

Phoenix, the officially unofficial Indiana Fire Association fire dog, recently responded with crews to a vehicle fire and carried out her usual duties by closely supervising operations from the safety of the driver's seat.

As always, firefighters remained focused on the task at hand until the emergency was mitigated. Once the fire was extinguished, equipment was repacked, and crews were ready to return to service, Phoenix decided it was time for a little recreation.

While emergencies are serious business, it's important to remember that camaraderie and morale are also a big part of what makes the fire service special. There is a time to work and a time to have fun, and Phoenix seems to understand that better than most.

Enjoy this video of Phoenix enjoying a few moments of playtime after the job was complete. We can't promise she helped put the fire out, but she definitely helped keep spirits up.

06/17/2026

🚨 Vehicle Fire – St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church 🚨

At 9:32 this morning, the Indiana Fire Association was dispatched to the parking lot of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church in White Township for a reported vehicle fire. Initial information was limited to a Kia SUV on fire.

As firefighters, we always appreciate additional information from callers. Is it a gasoline vehicle, hybrid, or electric? Is the fire in the passenger compartment or under the hood? While those details help us start developing a plan, the response remains the same—get the engines rolling and get someone on scene to size things up.

Upon arrival, crews found a Kia SUV with a fire involving the engine compartment.

Now for the part that made today's call a little unique.

At 9:30 on a weekday morning, available manpower can be limited. Today's attack crew consisted of:

⚪ Chief Lee Thompson
⚪ First Assistant Chief Ron Moreau
⚪ Second Assistant Chief John Steigert
⚪ Third Assistant Chief Bob Henry
⚪ Fire Administrator and former Chief Paul Koons

Firefighter Owen Orr was also responding but arrived shortly afterward.

At first glance, that might look like a lot of white helmets and not many firefighters. But here's something worth thinking about.

Between those five white helmets is well over a century of fire service experience and likely well over 10,000 emergency calls answered. More importantly, experience isn't built by simply holding a membership card for a long time. Experience is built by answering calls at 2 a.m., making difficult decisions, solving problems, and seeing the same situations thousands of times over the course of a career.

In fact, every one of those officers ranks among the department's top responders over the past two decades.

While chiefs and administrators don't always find themselves pulling hose lines these days, it's reassuring to know that when the situation calls for it, they can still step off the curb and get the job done.

The bumper line was deployed and water was applied to the fire within approximately 30 seconds of Engine arrival. Crews removed portions of the grille and headlight assembly to gain access to hidden fire in the engine compartment. The hood latch had melted and refused to cooperate, so the hinges were cut and the hood was removed entirely, providing full access for extinguishment.

The fire was quickly controlled and damage was largely confined to the engine compartment. While the vehicle unfortunately sustained significant damage, it appears the contents of the passenger compartment were largely saved from the fire.

Most importantly, nobody was injured.

We also want to thank the vehicle owner for their patience and cooperation during what was undoubtedly a stressful morning. Nobody expects to leave church with fewer vehicle parts than they arrived with.

Today's incident was a reminder that while experience may have a few gray hairs attached to it, it still works remarkably well.

And for anyone wondering if the chiefs still remember how to stretch a line and put out a fire...

The answer is yes.

Although several firefighters have informed us that they will never hear the end of it.

🚒🔥

06/17/2026

Call to Service Behind the Scenes 🚛

When the sirens stop and crews clear the scene, there is still work to be done. One part of emergency response that often goes unnoticed is getting damaged vehicles removed safely and quickly so roads can reopen and traffic can return to normal.

We are fortunate to work alongside some outstanding towing and service providers like Martin Diesel Towing. This reel shows the careful process of getting this overturned truck back onto its wheels after a recent crash. It takes skill, patience, and professionalism to safely recover vehicles in situations like this.

These companies are out with us in all conditions, often working in dangerous environments alongside emergency responders. Their crews work efficiently to help clear scenes, reduce roadway hazards, and limit the impact on the traveling public.

A big thank you to all of the tow operators and service providers we partner with. We appreciate everything you do behind the scenes to help keep our community moving safely. 👏🚒🚛

06/17/2026

Call 368 – Rollover Crash at South 6th & Locust 🚨

Call 368 came in today at 4:00 PM for a two-vehicle T-bone style crash with a rollover and reported confinement at the intersection of South 6th Street and Locust Street.

Crews arrived to find one vehicle overturned in the roadway with all occupants still accounted for. Thankfully, despite the dramatic scene, all occupants sustained minor injuries and were transported from the scene.

IFA crews quickly went to work securing both vehicles and stabilizing the scene. Due to the driver being unable to exit the overturned vehicle, firefighters utilized hydraulic cutters to remove the upper window frame from the door, allowing crews to safely open the door and assist the driver out.

While Citizens Ambulance handled patient care and transport, Indiana Borough Police conducted the investigation into what led up to the crash.

After patient care and vehicle stabilization, firefighters assisted Don Huey’s Towing and Martin Diesel Towing with the cleanup effort.
Cleanup included picking up enough tools and hardware from the roadway that for a brief moment we considered opening ‘Locust Street Hardware.

A reminder to everyone: South 6th and Locust can be a busy intersection — take an extra second, slow down, and make sure it’s clear before proceeding.

More pictures in the comments.

06/16/2026

Pole Position: Utility Edition 🚧🤔

Today while operating in the area of Locust and 6th Street, crews came across something that made us stop, tilt our heads, and collectively say… “Huh?”

Now, we are firefighters — not engineers, utility experts, or structural physicists. But we do know when something looks like it belongs in a cartoon.

At first glance, everything seems normal. New utility pole? Great. Electric moved over? Excellent. Progress! 👏

Then we looked a little closer…

The old pole, which appears to have been cut off at the bottom, is still standing there holding communication lines. And by “standing,” we mean being lovingly supported by the new pole with what appears to be rope and enough strap tension to secure a riding mower to a trailer.

We’re no scientists, but we’re fairly certain “hope, rope, and ratchet straps” isn’t covered in the building code.

We have questions:

• Is this temporary?
• Is this permanent temporary?
• Did someone say, “Yep, that’ll hold”?
• Is the old pole just emotionally supported at this point?
• Are we witnessing modern engineering or a county fair tractor-pull tie down strategy?

In all seriousness, utility work is incredibly complex and there’s probably a plan here that we don’t fully understand. We know linemen and communication crews do amazing work every day and safely deal with things most of us wouldn’t touch with a 40-foot pike pole.

But from a firefighter’s perspective… seeing a pole cut off at the bottom, tied to another pole with rope, definitely raises an eyebrow or two.

If anyone can explain the science to us, we’re all ears — because right now this looks like it’s being held together by determination and positive thoughts.

(And yes, before anyone asks… no, we did not shake it to see if it moved.)

We know it’s been this way for awhile.

06/14/2026

Call #363 came in last night at 11:22 PM for a 2-vehicle motor vehicle crash on Indian Springs Road at the Rustic Lodge intersection.

Crews arrived to find a T-bone style collision, which can often result in significant injuries due to the side impact. Thankfully, this was not a high-speed crash, and despite no airbags deploying in either vehicle, injuries appear to be minor.

One occupant was transported by Citizens Ambulance to IRMC for evaluation.

IFA crews assisted with traffic control and tackled what modern cars do best after a crash — scatter enough plastic across the road to make it look like a recycling bin exploded. Crews also cleaned up a significant amount of glass and debris from the roadway.

One vehicle had moved onto Rustic Lodge Road, while the second vehicle required a quick door pop to make it easier for the driver to exit safely. Before work began, the vehicle was cribbed and secured, and once the occupant was out, the car was moved off the roadway to await a tow company.

Thanks to quick work by crews, traffic was able to continue moving in all lanes, and units cleared the scene in approximately 40 minutes. Cars were towed from the scene by Import Auto Works.

Drive safe — especially through intersections. Sometimes all it takes is one driver not seeing another vehicle for an ordinary night to turn complicated in a hurry. 🚒

06/14/2026

We didn’t forget — today is Flag Day. 🇺🇸

With the strong winds today, we made the decision not to fly the large flag. As much as we love seeing Old Glory stretched across the station, safety (and not turning it into the world’s most patriotic kite) won out today.

A little Flag Day history:

Flag Day is observed every year on June 14th, commemorating the day in 1777 when the Second Continental Congress approved the design of the first American flag. The resolution simply stated:

“Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field…”

While Americans celebrated the flag informally for many years, Flag Day officially became a national observance in 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14th as Flag Day. Later, in 1949, President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress permanently establishing National Flag Day.

Today we honor not only the flag itself, but what it represents — freedom, sacrifice, service, and the generations who have defended it.

We hope everyone has a safe and great Flag Day! 🇺🇸🚒

Indiana Fire Association

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