Morgan Township fire chief reports grant applications, rising call volume

Morgan Township Fire Chief reported at the trustees meeting Aug. 11 that the department has submitted three grant applications and is offering a community CPR class on Aug. 27. The chief said the department applied for a $7,612 grant to the Bureau of Workers' Compensation to replace expiring gloves and hoods, a $300 grant to Harbor Freight for tools for Engine 141 and the station, and an $8,300 request to the McCullough-Hyde Community Foundation for a “red light sauna” intended for a cancer-prevention initiative after smoke exposure. “We submitted an $8,300 grant to McCullough Hyde Community Foundation for a red light sauna,” the chief said. Registration for the free community CPR class is by calling the station and leaving a message for Captain Yan. The chief also reported a planned reapplication to an opioid settlement fund after a recent court development increased available assets. “They went back to the Purdue family, and they’re making them pay more…so there’s more assets in it, so there’s more available to us,” the chief said, adding the first settlement checks are expected in 2026. On operational metrics, the chief said the department handled 50 responses in July — 37 more runs in 2025 than in 2024 — with an average out-the-door time of 1 minute 31 seconds, which he said meets national standards. In July the department inspected seven properties and provided 106 hours of training; year-to-date training is 573 hours. The department distributed five non–Red Cross smoke detectors to residents; the chief explained those devices can be handed out rather than requiring an installation visit. The chief closed by inviting questions and saying staff will follow up on pending grant notifications and settlement reapplication timing. The trustees took no formal action on grant approvals during the meeting; the chief said he will reapply if and when the settlement notice is received.