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Fire Department
Fire Chief Tom LaRue along with Deputy Chief Toby Fralick leads a combination department of 23 volunteers and 15 full-time firefighters into the call of duty. The firehouse is equipped with 2 Class A engines, 1- 75’ aerial, 1 grass rig, 1 hose truck, 1 command vehicle, and 2 thermal imagers. You can count on our first response team to provide fire protection, BLS non-transport ambulance service, HAZ-MAT, rescue, fire prevention, and code enforcement.
The Columbia City Fire Department also serves the city by appearing at area schools for fire safety training, fire prevention, and “stop, drop, and roll”. The Department is funded by tax dollars.
Mission Statement
To provide excellent life safety to the community by; aggressively enforcing modern fire prevention codes and laws, effectively educating the public of its role in fire safety, safely and efficiently extinguishing fires, providing emergency medical, hazardous material and other services consistent with the role of a modern fire department
Columbia City Fire Museum
Our fire station also has a non-tax funded fire museum which houses a 1917 Seagrave, 1934 Howe Reo and 1953 Seagrave antique trucks. This museum holds many old relics from the beginning of the fire department which will help teach future generations the history of our city’s fire department and fire safety in the City of Columbia City. Antiques: 1917 Seagrave, 1934 Howe Reo, 1953 Seagrave
Annual Free Christmas Eve Candy Giveaway
It has been over a century long tradition of the Columbia City Fire Department (along with Santa Claus) to hand out a 1 lb. bag of candy and an orange to the children on Christmas Eve from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at the Court House. This candy is purchased through fund raisers and donations which cost about $2500 per year. This has been a wonderful event for the community to see children stand in line to see Santa and get their bag of candy. Approximately 600 lbs. of candy plus oranges is given out at the Court House. Every year, any donations are greatly appreciated as it gets harder to raise the funds each year. Donations can be sent directly to the Columbia City Fire Department.
Fleet of Equipment
2014 Spartan Rescue Engine
2004 Crimson Fire Engine
2024 Hose Truck
2002 Grass Rig
2001 E-1 Ladder Truck
2017 Command Vehicle
2021 Inspection Vehicle
Organizational Chart
Fire Chief Thomas E. LaRue
Deputy Chief Toby Fralick
Safety Officer Dave Herron and Safety Officer Pat Zickgraf
Captains: Michael McGreggor, Rhys Perry, Ron Jones, Doug Reed, Rodney Ousley, Kyle Francis, Trent Stamper
Medical Coordinator Felicity Clawson
Fire Training Officer Kyle Francis
Fire Marshall Trent Stamper
Fire Department
112 S. Chauncey Street
Columbia City, Indiana 46725
260 248 5161 (non emergency)
Tom LaRue
Fire Chief
tlarue@columbiacity.net
260-248-5160