Divisions

The Elkhart Fire Department (EFD) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division provides advanced, compassionate prehospital care to the citizens and visitors of the City of Elkhart. Operating under a progressive medical direction and state-approved protocols, the division delivers Advanced Life Support (ALS) services through a team of certified Paramedics and EMTs who respond from seven strategically located fire stations.

The EMS Division is responsible for ensuring excellence in patient care, training, quality assurance, and operational readiness. Each member of the division undergoes continuous education in areas such as cardiac care, trauma management, airway control, and pediatric emergencies. The division also oversees field training programs, continuing education, protocol updates, and the integration of new medical technologies.

In addition to emergency response, the EMS Division collaborates closely with Elkhart General Hospital, local law enforcement, county EMS agencies, and public health partners to strengthen community health and emergency preparedness. The division also supports community outreach through CPR/AED instruction, public health initiatives, and event medical coverage.

Under the leadership of the Assistant Chief and the Division Chief of EMS, the division’s mission is to provide efficient, evidence-based emergency medical care while upholding the department’s core values of Professionalism, Integrity, and Service to the Community.

A cornerstone of the division’s innovation is the Whole Blood Program, which allows trained EFD paramedics to administer lifesaving whole blood transfusions in the field to critically injured or hemorrhaging patients. This program, developed in partnership with Elkhart General Hospital and South Bend Medical Foundation blood center, places Elkhart among the leading EMS agencies in Indiana, delivering cutting-edge prehospital care.

The Elkhart Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team is a highly specialized group of firefighters trained to handle some of the most complex and dangerous rescue incidents. These operations require advanced skills, precision teamwork, and specialized equipment to safely rescue victims in environments beyond the capabilities of standard fire suppression operations.

The team is certified and equipped to respond to a wide range of technical rescue disciplines, including:

• Confined Space Rescue – Entry, stabilization, and removal of victims from hazardous, oxygen-deficient, or structurally limited environments.

• Structural Collapse Rescue – Operations involving collapsed or unstable buildings, with expertise in shoring, breaching, and victim extrication.

• Water and Ice Rescue – Surface and subsurface rescue capabilities for swift-water and ice incidents.

• Trench Rescue – Stabilization and victim recovery from collapsed or compromised trenches and excavations.

• Vehicle and Machinery Extrication (Man vs. Machine) – Precision extrication and disentanglement from vehicles, industrial equipment, or entrapments.

• Rope Rescue – High-angle, low-angle, and vertical rescue operations using specialized rope systems and rigging techniques.

The Technical Rescue Team operates two dedicated specialty response rigs and a support trailer carrying advanced tools, shoring systems, cutting equipment, and rope gear. The team not only responds within the City of Elkhart but also provides mutual aid across the region as part of a coordinated technical rescue network.

Through continuous training and collaboration, the Elkhart Fire Department ensures its personnel are ready to meet the challenges of any rescue scenario—protecting life, property, and community with professionalism and skill.

The Elkhart Fire Department’s Training Division is dedicated to developing highly skilled, confident, and mission-ready firefighters. Under the leadership of the Division Chief of Training, the division oversees three Shift Training Instructors, each responsible for coordinating and delivering training across their respective shifts. This structure ensures consistent, high-quality instruction and preparedness across all personnel, 24/7.

Our training campus features a three-story live-fire burn tower designed to support realistic, scenario-based training. This facility allows us to conduct recruit academy instruction, multi-company drills, and advanced fireground operations, including live-fire evolutions, search and rescue, RIT operations, forcible entry, ventilation, hose deployment, and incident command.

From new recruits to veteran firefighters, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety, professionalism, and operational excellence. Through continuous hands-on training and real-world simulation, the Training Division prepares our firefighters to serve our community with skill, courage, and dedication.

The Fire Prevention Division is committed to protecting life, property, and the environment through code enforcement, fire investigation, and public education. The Division is staffed by the Fire Marshal and three Deputy Fire Marshals, who work collaboratively to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations, determine the origin and cause of fires, and deliver educational outreach to the community. Together, they serve as a vital resource in promoting a fire-safe Elkhart for all residents, businesses, and visitors.