The South Bend Fire Department exists to provide our community with the highest quality emergency services protecting life and property through education, response, and dynamic outreach.
The objective of the South Bend Fire Department is to provide rapid and efficient response to emergency medical incidents, fires, hazardous materials incidents, and complex rescue situations in order to safeguard the life and property of our citizens. This requires planning and development of response capabilities to ensure that future needs and the efficiency of operations are addressed.
Public education and prevention services are provided to ensure citizen safety before an incident occurs. This is the safest and most cost-effective method for providing public safety.
The South Bend Fire Department endeavors to give the best emergency medical care available backed by evidence-based medical practices which give citizens the best chance for positive outcomes and continued quality of life.
Providing the members of the South Bend Fire Department with the latest and best available equipment and training to perform their duties gives them the tools to affect the best possible outcomes when emergencies occur.
The South Bend Fire Department is dedicated to providing expert-level service with an all-hazards approach to public safety.
South Bend Fire Department Administrative Offices and EMS Billing Office hours:
Monday- Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
History
Since the early origins of the City, the South Bend Fire Department has held a reputation as one of the finest Departments in the Midwest. The area’s first organized fire protection entity commenced operations on January 29, 1853, twelve years before the incorporation of the city. The group consisted of unpaid volunteers in two companies. The Department grew to include three engines, three hose companies, and one hook and ladder and bucket company by 1868, and in 1887 became a full-time paid fire department.
The Department continued to expand as South Bend grew. By 1919, the department included sixty-seven men in twelve companies.
The Department presently employs 256 full-time Firefighters in four divisions and services a population of approximately 103,000. The department’s function has changed from exclusively fighting fires, to an all-hazards emergency response service. Examples of functions provided by the South Bend Fire Department are fire suppression, Emergency Medical Services, water rescue, Hazardous Materials emergency response, technical rescue, and other emergency responses.
In Memory
The South Bend Fire Department recognizes the efforts in past firefighters by establishing a memorial. Below are firefighters that have dedicated their lives to making the City of South Bend a safer place for all.
Private Richard “Doc” Brekrus (1990)
Captain Tony Csenar
Captain Stanley J. Jackowiak
Bradley Jordon (1994)
Battalion Chief Carl A. Williamson
Captain Tom Jozwiak
Captain Steve Sheets (2001)
Captain Bruce Taylor (2002)
Battalion Chief James Cole (2003)
Captain Paul Belmarez (2005)
Firefighter Fred Gunther (2012)
Battalion Chief Kevin Kolber (2017)
Firefighter First Class Joshua Comeau (2019)
Captain David “Dutch” Koehler (2019)
Firefighter 1st Class Jeremy Bush (2020)
Fire Stations
The South Bend Fire Department is comprised of 11 Fire Stations and provides staffing for several specialized areas.
Station 1
1222 S. Michigan St.
574.235.9491
Station 2
402 Charles Martin Sr. Dr.
574.235.9602
Station 3
1805 McKinley Ave.
574.235.9175
Station 4
220 N. Olive St.
574.235.9422
Station 5
2221 Prairie Ave.
574.235.9509
Station 6
4302 W. Western Ave.
574.235.9691
Station 7
1616 Portage Ave.
574.235.9767
Station 8
2402 Twyckenham Dr.
574.235.9995
Station 9
2108 Mishawaka Ave.
574.235.9900
Station 10
5303 York Rd.
574.291.1309
Station 11
3505 N. Bendix Dr.
574.235.9385
Staff
Administrative Office hours are 8:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Fire Chief: Carl R. Buchanon
Assistant Chief of Services: Todd Skwarcan
Assistant Chief of Operations: Mike Damiano
Assistant Chief of Emergency Medical Services: Andrew Myer
Assistant Chief of Instruction/Training: Brandon Roark
Assistant Chief of Prevention/Fire Marshal: Derek Erquhart
Battalion Chief (A-Shift): Chris Baker
Battalion Chief (A-Shift): Mike Szucs
Battalion Chief (B-Shift): Bob Means
Battalion Chief (B-Shift): Mike Lagodney
Battalion Chief (C-Shift): James Jones
Battalion Chief (C-Shift): Brian Koloszar
Recruit & Employment
Join the South Bend Fire Department today!
This web page was last updated on July 3, 2024. Links to other resources on this web page may have been last updated on a different date.
Email
311@southbendin.gov
Phone
574.235.9255
Address
1222 South Michigan.South Bend, Indiana 46601
