History of HTVFD Inc.

Articles of Incorporation of Gatesville Volunteer Fire Department Inc. were approved and filed June 25, 1971. At that time there were (6) members, and the firefighting equipment consisted of a 1947 Studebaker pump truck, an army deuce and a half with a tank, and various other apparatus and equipment. The department ran out of a pole barn structure located at 5612 Gatesville Road, Nashville IN 47448. The land that the department sat on was donated by Mrs. Nellie Crouch on May 24, 1974. The name was officially changed to Hamblen Township Volunteer Fire department Inc. on May 23, 1986.

In April, 1996 the department started a petition drive to become a Fire District. After several public meetings, and meetings with the Brown County Commissioners, the petition was approved and the Hamblen Township Fire Protection District was created on April 6, 1998. At that time there were ten (10) active members on the department and our fleet consisted of (4) vehicles, a 1965 Ford engine, a 1979 Ford engine, a 1979 Chevrolet 34 ton truck outfitted with a 250 gallon tank to serve as a brush truck, and a 1986 Ambulance that was given to us from Princess Lakes to use for medical runs.

In the spring of 1999 we applied jointly with Jackson Township Volunteer Fire department, and Fruitdale Volunteer Fire Department, for a grant through the Brown County Community Foundation to build a new fire station. In accordance with the grant writing procedure, we became a 501(c) 3 corporation. We successfully acquired the grant in the fall of 1999. The Brown County Community Foundation awarded us $125.000 towards the building of the new Firehouse. After much searching the department purchased (1) acre of ground and had (3) acres donated from Mr. & Mrs. Lee Morgan for a total of (4) acres Ground was broken and construction began in July of 2000. After moving into the building in November, we held an open house for the community on December 8th 2001. We held an official dedication ceremony for our new station located at 4650 Sweetwater Trail, Nineveh, Indiana 46164 on July 13th 2002.

Since that time with the help of our Fire District Board we have purchased a used 1984 engine, a new 2000 tanker, a 1989 one ton Chevrolet to be used as a brush truck. In 2003 South Central REMC gave us a grant to get some newer fire gear to help us a few more years before getting more fire gear. This takes us thru year 2006 . In 2007 we had to acquire another used 1987 Engine as ours was needing replaced. 

In year 2008 the Fire District Board Purchased brand new air packs, as our old ones were too old to be safely used in any fires, or trainings. Hamblen Fire Board in the year 2009 purchased new turnout gear to replace old and outdated gear, to safely protect our firefighters from being hurt or burnt. The air packs and turnout gear had been given to us by other departments when they were out dated to them so we were consistently using too old of equipment when we got it.

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