Allen County officials and regional fire service leaders held a press conference today to provide an update on fire services consolidation efforts and to introduce the new Executive Fire Chief, Jeremy Bush.
Allen County Board of Commissioners news release:
Allen County Fire Protection Districts: Update on Fire Services Consolidation Effort & Introduction of New Executive Fire Chief
Allen County, Indiana (April 22, 2026) – Allen County officials and regional fire service leaders held a press conference today to provide an update on the ongoing effort to unify four Fire Protection Districts and one Fire & EMS Territory into the single, consolidated Allen County Fire and EMS Protection District (ACFED). The consolidated department will serve most of unincorporated Allen County and aims to deliver a more reliable, efficient, and sustainable emergency response system for residents.
Commissioner Rich Beck greeted a packed room and introduced the program’s first speaker, Larry Owen, Southwest Allen Fire District Advisory Board member and member of the Fire Oversight Board. He shared an overview of the history of the fire protection district model noting that it was invented in 1980 to provide a mechanism for fire service consolidation. Formed in 1986, the Southwest Allen Fire Protection District (SWFD) was one of the first districts created in the State of Indiana.
The press conference was held in the Training Center behind SWFD Station 1, part of the original fire district in Allen County, in recognition of the groundbreaking decisions that were made 40 years ago and where they were being made today as fire leaders move into the future with a county-wide organization. Owen shared that, “And now, Allen County is on the cusp of creating more history and more trailblazing action by establishing the first true county-wide fire district in the State of Indiana.”
Throughout the process, county leaders have highlighted several key realities driving the need for change:
- Volunteer availability has sharply declined across the region and the state.
- As the county population grows, emergency incidents are increasing in both number and complexity.
- Service expectations, training standards, and response requirements have risen significantly.
- Maintaining the current structure is neither sustainable nor responsible long-term.
Bob Byrd, Board Chairman of the East Central Fire & EMS Protection Territory and Fire Oversight Board member, echoed Owen’s assessment of the success of the district model saying, “One thing everyone in emergency services learns early: we cannot save every life. But we can give every person the best possible chance. This Unified District will save lives.”
Byrd shared that the entire process has been, “deliberate and thoughtful,” noting that the first discussions among the Allen County Fire Chiefs began in 2019, but the Fire Oversight Board meetings began taking place regularly in January 2024. As part of the consolidation effort, the Oversight team recognized that hiring an Executive Fire and EMS Chief was essential to guide the transition as well as to lead the unified Fire Protection District. They put together a hiring committee that, “developed a comprehensive process including job posting, qualifications, screening, evaluation criteria, and interview questions. A Candidate Evaluation Packet was created. The position was posted in early February, and three candidates were selected to be interviewed in early March. After thorough discussion, the committee unanimously selected the individual we are introducing today.”
The Fire Oversight Board unanimously selected Jeremy Bush, former President of the Fort Wayne Metro Firefighters Union, to be the first ever Allen County Executive Fire and EMS Chief.
Bush shared, “I’m honored to accept the role of Allen County Executive Fire & EMS Chief, focused on supporting our people, strengthening our system, and delivering for the public we are sworn to protect.” He continued, noting that the process, “is about more than unifying departments. It’s about aligning people, resources, and leadership around a common mission. It’s about building a system where firefighters have the support they need, chiefs have the tools to lead, elected officials and boards have confidence in the direction, and communities receive consistent, high-quality service, while taxpayers know it’s being done the right way.”
The consolidated department is designed to reduce duplication, improve operational efficiency, and provide consistent staffing, training, and service levels. Officials noted that life safety, incident stabilization, property conservation, and strong patient outcomes remain the core priorities. Investments will be measured against those critical needs.
The Fire Oversight Board will continue to work closely with participating communities, local stakeholders, and public safety professionals to ensure they remain informed and meaningfully involved throughout the process. The Board has also been working with legal counsel to ensure all steps meet statutory and procedural requirements. At this point in the process, all participating units have signed either a resolution or interlocal agreement declaring their commitment to the merger, which goes into effect on January 1, 2027.
Bush closed by saying, “We succeed when we . . . build a system our communities can depend on, and one our firefighters are proud to serve in. That’s exactly what we intend to do.”
Of note, the following individuals made up the hiring committee:
- Robert Armstrong – President, Allen County Council
- Richard Beck – Allen County Commissioner
- Bob Byrd – East Central Fire and EMS Board Chair
- Mike Cahill – Citizen Member
- Larry Owen – Southwest District Board Chair
- Jeff Berning – Fire Chief, Northeast Fire District
- Robert Boren – Fire Chief, Northwest Fire District
- Doug Call – Fire Chief, East Central Fire and EMS Protection Territory
- Don Patnoude – Fire Chief, Southwest Fire District
- Gale Stelzer – Fire Chief, West Central Fire District
The Fire Oversight Board convened over the course of several years and consisted of various individuals who represented Allen County Council, the Board of Commissioners, each Fire Protection District and the Fire & EMS Protection Territory and at times included legal counsel and consulting services.
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