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Townsend discusses regional fire-department merger as ambulance and rescue equipment arrive
Summary
Town of Townsend leaders discussed plans with four neighboring towns to form a unified fire department, while officials reported increased call volume in 2025 and confirmed new equipment and a new ambulance delivery timeline.
Town of Townsend officials said they are exploring a regional consolidation of fire services with four neighboring towns.
Fire Chief Dawn Herlache told the board that Mountain, Lakewood, Riverview and Doty are participating in talks about merging operations into a single, unified department to share resources and improve service. Herlache, Dacon Franzen, Planning & Zoning Chair Dan DeMoulin and Chair Monica Zeller held a Zoom meeting with representatives of the other towns; town chairs are scheduled to meet next week to continue the discussion. Officials noted grant funding may be available to support shared resources.
Herlache also reported on department operations: the fire department handled four calls since the last meeting and reached 49 calls in 2025, the highest total in roughly 10–15 years. She attributed part of the increase to automatic-response coverage for Lakewood. The department has activated a new reporting system (NERIS) and received battery-operated extrication equipment.
On ambulance service, Steve Harkema reported 12 calls in November and said the new ambulance should arrive in mid-2026; plans for a building addition to house or support the ambulance are currently with the state for approval.
Wanda Laste, president of Friends of Townsend Fire, said the volunteer support group helped with the extrication-equipment purchase and secured a grant from the Potawatomi for an ice-rescue suit. She said the group is preparing a spring cash raffle and updating the volunteer board.
