Whitestown Fire Board reviews November operations, discusses lateral hiring and adopts 2026 calendar

Whitestown — At its Dec. 3 meeting the Whitestown Fire Board received updates from the chief on November operations and training, discussed staffing and adopted its 2026 meeting calendar.

Chief (speaker 2) summarized community outreach events (Tractor Supply Hometown Heroes, Culver's Kids Night, Boys & Girls Club tour), annual generator and battery service, lieutenant promotional testing, and inspection totals (45 in the month, 1,261 year to date). He reported 480 hours of fire training focused on ISO standards, planned large-scale extrication and hybrid-electric vehicle safety training, and 142 hours of EMS training for the month. The chief also reported 172 runs in November (1,816 YTD), 61 patient contacts, 58 transports and EMS billing of $30,104.14 for the month with a year-to-date total above $451,000 (an 11% increase over the prior year).

Board members asked for clarifications on NARCAN usage increases (the chief said reporting changes in ESO software may show doses rather than unique patients) and requested a January report that includes year-to-date aid received by the department as well as aid given. The chief said the department is near final steps on a DEA license to allow future in-house narcotics purchases.

Under other business, the chief said the department is strongly considering an in-house lateral hiring process at no cost to the department to fill one vacancy. The board reviewed the proposed 2026 fireboard meeting calendar and, after discussion, penciled in Jan. 14 as the tentative January meeting date and adopted the calendar as amended by unanimous vote (5–0).

Chair and members noted that some board seats will change at year end; Michelle O'Connor told the board she will not seek her seat again and was thanked for her service.

The meeting adjourned following a motion and second.