Bryan set on restructuring Clinton VFD

Grant Bryan

VAN BIBBER LAKE — With the departure of Tony Camp last month, the reins of the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department have passed to a new leader focused on stability.

After being put forward for the position, and with the confidence of bringing positive change to the department, Grant Bryan was recently appointed as Clinton Township’s new fire chief.

The move was made by the department’s president, who had the executive authority to appoint a new chief.

The board that governs the Walnut Creek Fire Protection District appointed Camp in 2022, as there was no department established then. The board voided its previous contract with Clinton Township Fire.

Clinton Township Fire and the Bainbridge Volunteer Fire Department both operate through the district, which is its own independent entity.

Bryan began his service at the Russellville Volunteer Fire Department in 2018. While he is still a firefighter there, he has been full time with the Greencastle Fire Department coming on three years.

With his family having been rooted in Clinton Township for three generations, Bryan currently resides in Clinton Falls with his wife Bethany and three daughters.

The transition has been complicated by documentation that has been unclear or unable to be located. This is one restarting point to getting the department’s affairs in order.

“There’s not a lot of detail in terms of procedure, how we should bring on new members, who has what role in terms of ironing out officer positions,” Bryan said about clarifying the department’s existing bylaws. “It’s going to take time and due diligence.”

Andrew Burch, Tyler Fiscus and Nick Purdy have been the only active members except for Lee Price as the president. However, almost 20 people have either turned in applications or expressed interest in joining the department.

Apart from his firefighting training and EMT experience, Bryan has completed the Fire Officer Strategy and Tactics (FOST) course. He also has Fire Instructor I, which permits him to teach skills he is certified in.

With a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing, Bryan previously worked for Spear Corporation as a logistics manager. Since joining Greencastle Fire, he has worked part time as a sales manager for Metal Forming Industries.

“My mentality is to rebuild the foundation,” Bryan said about his intentions on restructuring the department. “It’s not just gonna be me. We’re gonna get down to the nitty-gritty on the basics.”

For Bryan, and also Price for his part, this revolves around Clinton Township Fire being a fire department first. While he said he was not involved beforehand, it not being so is a consistent message he has heard from the community.

With nearly three decades devoted to the fire service, Price has served 18 years as the Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department’s chief. Price also works part time at Greencastle Fire. After he was appointed, Camp asked him to be the president.

“It’s not like I’m coming into a place where there’s no one trained, or no one knows how to respond,” Bryan said, having praised Fiscus and Purdy especially for their efforts in the meantime.

As to its being able to operate efficiently, the department is low on turnout gear and radios. Otherwise, Bryan said that its apparatuses and existing equipment are up to its needs.

However, the immediate needs of the department, for Bryan, are community involvement and manpower, with the latter almost going without saying.

As to varying abilities within the membership, Bryan sees three segments being support, firefighting and emergency medical services. The outlook of this, he related, is that these are uniquely vital elements to cover.

“That’s why I am at Madison; that’s why I joined GFD as a part timer; that’s why I’m out here helping Grant with Clinton Township,” Price said about promoting a love for the job.

“I look at it from this standpoint: This community needs whatever it can get,” he added.

Bryan’s approach as the fire chief moving forward is to be transparent, along with focusing on Clinton Township Fire being what it is first. To him, its vitality relies on bringing in those who want to help.

“I want people in this community to see this department and be proud of how it’s being run,” Bryan summed up. “I want people to be proud of us and want to be involved in us.”