03/02/2026
🔥Honoring Our Past. Protecting Our Future.🔥
Since 1952, the Chandler Volunteer Fire Department has proudly served the Town of
Chandler and surrounding areas with dedication, courage and heart. For more than 70
years, volunteer firefighters have left dinner tables, jobs, family gatherings, and warm beds
to answer the call – protecting neighbors, friends, and loved ones. That legacy is something
our community should be incredibly proud of.
The conversation about forming a fire territory between Chandler and Ohio Township did
not start because of politics. It started in late summer 2025, when Chandler officials approached Ohio Township to confront a hard reality: our current response model is under strain.
📊 The Facts
Chandler (population 3,693 – 2020 Census) is protected by a department that has proudly
served since 1952.
Today, it is 100% volunteer.
In 2025:
● 408 total emergency calls
●235 medical nature calls
●173 fire nature calls
●7 calls where NO ONE from CVFD responded
●294 calls within town limits
●50 calls within Ohio Township
●42 calls within Campbell Township
●20 calls within Boonville City/Boon township
●2 calls within Vanderburgh County
●2.46 firefighters on average on the first truck
Two volunteers handled more than half of every call that our department responded to.
3rd most active firefighter responded to 39.9%
4th most active firefighter responded to 34.24%
After the top four responders, participation drops sharply.
That is not sustainable.
⌛Real Calls. Real Delays.
●Structure fire in town - 12 minutes to roll. 15 minutes to arrive.
●CPR calls - 9 to 11+ minutes before leaving the station
●Gas Leaks - up to 16 minutes to go enroute
●Complex extrication - Three CVFD Firefighters total
●Mutual aid fire - no qualified driver initially available
When your house is on fire…
When someone is not breathing…
When your loved one is trapped in a wrecked car…
Minutes and seconds matter.
🌍This Is Bigger Than Chandler.
The National Fire Protection Association reports that about 65% of firefighters nationwide
are volunteers – and those numbers have been declining for decades.
NFPA safety standards call for at least four firefighters to safely begin interior fire
operations.
The National Volunteer Fire Council has repeatedly warned communities about
recruitment and retention challenges nationwide.
This is not a local failure.
It is a national shift.
But it is our responsibility to respond to it.
🚫 Rumors
It has been stated that homeowners property taxes will increase 29% a year, for the next 5 years.
That is false. Chandler town residents could see a maximum increase of 18.3%, across 5 years, not per year. Factoring circuit breaker tax caps, taxpayers have the potential to see even less, if any, increase. I also employ residents to research how a lowered ISO rating could lower the cost of their homeowners insurance. CVFD is currently rated at a 5/5X,
with a territory and combination staffed department, that could potentially lower to a rating of 2/2X.
This has been described as a “hostile takeover” by Ohio Township.
That is false, this is an alliance foundationally built on teamwork, mutual resources and bettering our community.
Volunteers are being replaced.
That is false. Current and new volunteers will continue to be valued, needed and respected.
In the combination model volunteers are a force multiplier, making the department even more efficient and effective.
🔥 The Bottom Line
This is about making sure that when you dial 911, someone shows up – quickly, properly staffed, and ready.
Our volunteers are heroes.
They built this department.
They deserve support – not a system stretched to the breaking point.
A fire territory means:
●Stable Staffing
●Reliable Resources
●Predicted Funding
●Shared Resources
●Reduced Burnout
●A Safer Chandler
This is about protection.
The question isn’t whether we love our volunteer history.
We do.
The question is whether we are willing to adapt so that history doesn’t become a liability.
When seconds matter, excuses don’t put out fires.
Planning Does
