Crawfordsville Fire Department

08/15/2026

🩸 Leading by example!

Before the day even got rolling, one of our off-duty firefighters, his wife, and an on-duty police officer showed up to roll up their sleeves and donate blood for our community’s Whole Blood Program.

This is what community commitment looks like.

08/15/2026

Rainy day.

Perfect day to make a difference. 🩸

Our department is proud to be leading the way in Indiana and across the Midwest in bringing whole blood to patients in the field.

Only a small percentage of EMS agencies nationwide have this capability.

This week, our whole blood program was used to help save a life.

That’s what this initiative is all about bringing the best possible care to our community when every second matters.

But we can’t do it without you.

08/11/2026

Today, Crawfordsville Fire Department had the opportunity to train alongside the Lafayette Fire Department Water Search and Recovery Team.
Training together allows our crews to build relationships, become familiar with each other’s equipment and capabilities, and develop a better understanding of how we can work together when the call comes in.

Lafayette’s specialized dive team is available to assist us with water rescues, underwater searches, and recovery operations when we need additional resources. Their team brings specialized training and equipment that can make a tremendous difference during these challenging incidents.

We appreciate Lafayette Fire Department taking the time to train with us today. Building these partnerships before an emergency happens helps ensure we are ready to work together when our community needs us most.

08/07/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2026
Crawfordsville Fire Department Firefighters Earn Paramedic Licensure

CRAWFORDSVILLE (August 7, 2026) – The Crawfordsville Fire Department is proud to announce that Christen Saunders, Payton Busenbark, Haze Kashon, and Megan Rice-Ellingwood have successfully completed an intensive paramedic education program and have earned both their National Registry and Indiana Paramedic licenses.

Becoming a licensed paramedic is one of the prerequisites for continued employment with the Crawfordsville Fire Department. Since 1998, every firefighter hired by the department has been required to obtain paramedic licensure after joining the organization. While Indiana does not require all firefighters to be licensed paramedics, the Crawfordsville Fire Department has maintained this standard to ensure the highest level of emergency medical care for the citizens and visitors of Crawfordsville and Montgomery County.

The paramedic certification program is an intensive 18-month course of study based on a nationally recognized curriculum. The program includes approximately 440 hours of classroom and laboratory instruction, 270 hours of hospital clinical rotations, and 480 hours of field internship on Advanced Life Support ambulances, nearly 1,200 hours of education and clinical experience.

Each firefighter completed this demanding program while continuing to work the department's regular 56-hour work week, consisting of 24-hour shifts. Balancing the demands of paramedic school with the responsibilities of serving the community required countless hours of study, clinical rotations, and field internships outside of their normal work schedules. Their dedication and commitment reflect the professionalism expected of Crawfordsville firefighters and the department's unwavering commitment to providing exceptional emergency medical services.

Fire Chief Scott Busenbark praised the graduates for their determination, teamwork, and commitment throughout the rigorous program.

"Completing paramedic school is one of the most challenging accomplishments in the fire service. It requires an incredible amount of dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance while continuing to serve our community on 24-hour shifts. What impressed me most was not only the hard work each of these firefighters put in individually, but the way they came together as a team. They supported, encouraged, and challenged one another every step of the way. Watching them grow together over the past 18 months has been something our department is truly proud of. Earning your paramedic license is a tremendous achievement, and I couldn't be prouder of Christen, Payton, Haze, and Megan for reaching this milestone. They represent the professionalism, commitment, and teamwork that define the Crawfordsville Fire Department."

Following licensure, paramedics must maintain their certification through ongoing continuing education. Every two years, Indiana paramedics are required to complete 72 hours of continuing education and demonstrate competency in more than 20 advanced life support skills to maintain their certification.

In addition to earning their paramedic licenses, firefighters who already possess a college degree may be eligible to earn an additional Associate of Science degree. Firefighters without a prior degree may complete additional prerequisite coursework through the Indiana University School of Medicine's Academic Department of Emergency Medicine to earn an Associate of Science degree.

All four firefighters completed their paramedic education through the Indiana University School of Medicine, Eskenazi Health, and the Indiana EMS Education Consortium (IEMS).

The Crawfordsville Fire Department congratulates Christen Saunders, Payton Busenbark, Haze Kashon, and Megan Rice-Ellingwood on this significant professional achievement and thanks them for their dedication to advancing their education and providing the highest level of emergency medical care to the community.

08/06/2026

Last week, members of the Crawfordsville Fire Department joined firefighters from the Covington Fire Department and West Lebanon Fire Department for an intensive Surface Water Rescue Operations and Technician course.

Training side by side strengthens our skills, builds stronger partnerships, and ensures we’re prepared to respond safely and effectively when our communities need us most. From rescue techniques and rope systems to victim recovery and teamwork, this class provided valuable hands-on experience in challenging water rescue scenarios.

A big thank you to everyone who participated and to the instructors who shared their knowledge and expertise. The dedication shown by all three departments reflects our shared commitment to continuous training, regional cooperation, and providing the highest level of service to the citizens we protect.

07/30/2026

We are 2 Weeks out & Indiana inventories are dangerously LOW, and there’s an urgent need for all blood types to prevent a critical shortage (less than a day’s worth of blood available).

As you are aware, every drop🩸counts

07/23/2026

Help Save a Life & Give a Pint to Get a Pint coupon from Culver’s

07/14/2026

07/11/2026

Teamwork was on full display Thursday during a challenging rescue at Shades State Park.
The Crawfordsville Fire Department “C-Shift”, Waveland Volunteer Fire Department, Shades State Park Personnel, and Montgomery County Central Dispatch worked together to safely rescue an injured woman who suffered injuries while hiking on Trail 8.
Due to the remote location and rugged terrain, crews faced a difficult carry-out that required carefully navigating through the creek before reaching a more accessible section of the trail where an ambulance was waiting. The patient was then transported to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
Incidents like this highlight the professionalism, dedication, and teamwork of everyone involved. We are grateful for the outstanding cooperation between all responding agencies that helped bring this challenging rescue to a safe conclusion.
Another fantastic example of what can be accomplished when agencies work together as one team.

07/10/2026

We congratulate Jim Fulwider on a much deserved retirement from the CFD! Jim has dedicated over 30 years to public safety. Chief Busenbark was honored to deliver the symbolic retirement axe to show the cities appreciation. Jim has most recently served as the Engine 2 Engineer on B-Shift but has always stepped into any role that was needed of him by the department.
We wish him a happy and long retirement!