Nearly A Decade in the Making: Russell Township Funds a Full-Time Firefighter

Amy Heutmaker, Russell Township Trustee

Published: April 2026

I am happy to share some good news this week!

The Russell Township Board of Trustees voted 3-0 on March 30 to include funding for a full-time firefighter at the Russell Fire Department in our permanent appropriations. This is a decision the department requested.

What the Board Approved

The vote was unanimous. I, along with Trustees Port and Hare, approved the inclusion of a full-time firefighter position in the township's permanent appropriations, thereby aligning with the five-year vision the Russell Fire Department presented to the Board of Trustees in the fall of 2025. This means the department can plan, recruit, and staff with confidence.

Funding a position in permanent appropriations is not a small commitment. It signals to the Fire Department, to its members, and to the residents we all serve that this Board takes the staffing needs of our first responders seriously and intends to sustain that commitment.

Why This Matters

Since taking office, I have met regularly with Chief Frazier and his Assistants. The need for additional full-time staffing has been on the table for close to ten years, and the story has been the same throughout: calls answered, emergencies managed, a community protected, often with crews being re-worked daily due to staffing a part-time fire department. As Chief Frazier summed it up at our March 19, 2026, meeting:

“When a firefighter is held over at their full-time department, often that means we have to fill their shift in Russell.”

— Chief Frazier, Russell Township Fire Department, March 19, 2026

Response time, staffing levels, and equipment readiness are not abstract concerns. They are the difference between a house fire contained to one room and a house lost. They are the difference between a cardiac patient who survives and one who does not. Residents who dial 911 are not thinking about budget lines. They are thinking about whether help is coming, how fast, and whether it will be enough.

“As a former firefighter, I do not see public safety as a line item expense. I see it as an investment in our community and in every resident who picks up the phone and dials 911, trusting that they will get a timely, professional response from properly staffed and equipped road, police, and fire and EMS services.”

That trust has to be earned and maintained. This vote is one step toward earning it.

What Comes Next

The Fire Department will move forward with the recruitment and hiring process for the new full-time position. Residents can expect updates as that process moves forward.

If you have questions about this decision or the township's appropriations process, I welcome your outreach. You can also attend an upcoming Board of Trustees public meeting, where these matters are discussed on the record.

The views expressed here are mine only and are intended to keep residents informed about township issues. Decisions of the Russell Township Board of Trustees are made only during public meetings.