06/13/2026
News out of Henry County Dunreith, Indiana.
TOWN OF DUNREITH VOTES NOT TO RENEW FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT WITH DUNREITH FIRE DEPARTMENT
Public Input Denied Prior to Vote!
During a public meeting, the Dunreith Town Board voted not to renew its fire protection contract with the Dunreith Volunteer Fire Department.
Before the vote, Board President Irwin Benge read the proposal to not renew the contract.
When a member of the public asked whether public comments would be taken before the vote, Benge responded that the meeting was not a public hearing and stated that public input would be accepted at the end of the meeting after the board had already voted.
Town Attorney Geoff Wesling stated, "They're not voting to get rid of the fire department; they're voting to not have a contractual relationship with the department."
Board Member Carrie Buck made the motion to not renew the fire contract. The motion was seconded by Andrew Martin. The measure passed unanimously, with all three board members voting against renewing the contract.
During the meeting, President Benge stated that the decision reflected what the Fire Chief wanted.
After the meeting, I contacted Dunreith Fire Chief Jason Greene regarding that statement. Chief Greene denied that he had advocated for ending or not renewing the contract, stating, "Not a word of what he said is true."
What could this mean?
● Other fire departments may need to respond to emergencies within the Town of Dunreith after the current contract expires.
● Without a contract, the Dunreith Fire Department may no longer have the same responsibility to provide fire protection services to the town.
● The department would no longer receive funding from the Town of Dunreith under a current agreement.
On Scene 24 ●●●
During an emergency, every second matters. A fast response can mean the difference between saving a life, saving a home, or suffering a tragiclife's.
When your local fire department is eliminated or replaced by a department farther away, response times increase. Those extra minutes don't just result in greater property damage they can cost lives.
Fire protection isn't a luxury. It's an essential public safety service that every community deserves.
The long term impact on fire protection services for Dunreith remains to be seen, and additional information is expected to become available in the coming days.
Regarding the situation in Dunreith, it is concerning that the volunteer fire department's contract renewal is in question. This situation necessitates reliance on external fire departments, which could potentially impact response times within the town.
It is imperative that municipal leadership, including city council members, prioritize the safety and well-being of their constituents.
Firefighters and police officers undertake an oath to protect the public. It raises a pertinent question as to why similar commitments are not formally extended to councils, mayors, and commissioners to prevent such critical service disruptions.
The central question now becomes: How will the community of Dunreith address and resolve this issue? This is a significant concern that requires immediate attention. ●●●●●
Scott
On Scene 24.
