Menu
Camp looks to improve, unify Clinton Township fire service
VAN BIBBER LAKE — After the Walnut Creek Fire Protection District voided its contract with the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department last month, it has been uncertain how emergencies in the area would be met.
The district’s leadership expressed concerns then about the department being unable to function without a chief following Jack Giles’ resignation, with the hope being that a new one would rebuild it. They found someone who aims to do so in Tony Camp.
District President Rusty Burch, Vice President Mike Mahoy and Secretary Richard Cope officially announced Camp’s appointment Friday evening at a special meeting held at Clinton Township VFD’s station.
Currently on the Bainbridge Volunteer Fire Department and working as its treasurer, Camp previously served on the Decatur Township Fire Department in the southwest corner of Indianapolis. He also has a 40-hour prebasic, as well as a field training officer program, through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. This is besides him being an emergency medical responder (EMR) and able to draw on various fire-related training.
Coming to Clinton Township to re-shape the department, with its former membership and auxiliary having been dissolved, means a different kind of initiative.
“I am starting from ground zero,” Camp told the Banner Graphic recently. He is now cleaning up from the office out to the bay area and going through the equipment.
Moving forward, the fire district will be effectually in charge of the department. Its leadership would appoint the chief, who would in turn appoint officers under him. Regular elections could be implemented once a full membership is formed.
Camp's ultimate goal is for Clinton Township and Bainbridge to mirror each other, as both are under the fire district. As such, he wants to expand the station and work to streamline responses.
“We are going to work really close together to get it a uniform district,” Camp said.
Camp would want a new auxiliary devoted to fundraising, in which all proceeds would go solely to the department. With a purpose to be fiscally responsible, he said how this money is used would be determined by the members.
In the meantime, Deer Accounting will handle the department’s financials until roles can be secured with the new members coming in. This includes going through past records and catching it all up tax-wise.
Immediately crucial, though, is to re-establish trust and respect, as well as encourage teamwork with the other fire departments. The latter to Camp will come from collaborating with Bainbridge Fire Chief Kevin Thorson and his other peers.
“I want to work with all the departments surrounding; I want my department to train with them,” Camp said. “I want my crew to know what they need to do when they get to their scenes.”
Camp’s pulse is that the department has to build a rapport within the community. He pointed to previous incidents in which former members have had negative interactions as such.
This, Camp related, is contingent on finding members who will be dedicated and have a positive attitude. Even if a volunteer comes in completely green or does not have a certain certification, he or she can be built up with the department’s expectations.
An integral part of the process is reaffirming morale and buy-in. Camp went back to where he came from at Decatur Township FD, where he said four stations came together as a family unit. He wants to promote that same spirit at Clinton Township.
“The most important thing is the vibe you get from somebody,” Camp said. “If you can feel comfortable with them backing you up in a burning house, then you should be able to have them on your department.”
Having this confidence internally relates to the department being dependable on a fireground. As Camp put it, manpower in a rural community is invaluable, because it is few and far between as it is.
Going back to teamwork, Camp acknowledged that in responding to a fire as Clinton Township, he would give command to the chief of another department. As he sees it, they would be senior to him in terms of experience.
“The first goal is to protect the property and the people,” Camp said. “Try to contain it and don’t fight over who’s got command and who’s doing what. Everybody knows their job. You come in, you do it.”
Looking to the future, Camp hopes to get a flux of volunteers coming in for applications in short order. Able now to respond being a short distance away from the station, he wants a full department back in action by mid-September.
“I’m hopefully going to get enough people here that have the same vision as I do, and have the willingness and determination to do it,” Camp said finally. “It’s going to be a tough road, but we can do it.”