The Elkhart Fire Department

The Elkhart Fire Department has served the community since 1867. Over the past 150 years EFD has expanded into a full career department, achieving an ISO 2 protection class in the spring of 2017, by providing an all-hazards emergency response and numerous fire prevention and risk reduction programs that span just over 30 square miles, to the City of Elkhart.

Service is delivered by 129 firefighters through seven fire stations, staffing six engines, three ambulances, one quint, and one aerial as front line apparatus. In addition, the fire department provides cross staffing of apparatus which include an ambulance, Aircraft Rescue Firefighting apparatus (ARFF), Wildland apparatus, an aerial apparatus, Hazmat response apparatus, and water rescue/dive apparatus that are ready to respond when needed.

Additionally the fire department provides different technical levels of response, including a Hazardous Material response team, Technical Rescue Team, and a Water Rescue Team. Each team is ready to respond to the city and surrounding communities on a daily basis.

The fire department Operations are comprised of an EMS division, Training division, and the Inspection/Investigation bureau of risk management. The Training and EMS division report to the Assistant Fire Chief, led by Assistant Fire Chief Steve Kamp, while the office of administration oversees the budget, Fleet Services, and the Inspection /Investigation Bureau and risk management.

Services provided by the fire department include a variety of specialties and technical response teams to support the needs of the community. In June of 2017 we expanded our specialties by implementing a Technical Rescue Team (TRT) supported by firefighters with technical certifications. Specialties include 47 licensed Paramedics, 82 certified EMT’s, 33 Hazmat Technicians, 15 Water Rescue Technician’s, 6 Fire/EMS Instructors, 7 Technical Rescue Technicians and 2 EVT and ASE certified mechanics with 3 sift personnel assisting the mechanics.