Culver - Union Township Fire Department 2014- Present

2013-14 - The Culver-Union Township Fire Department, located in Culver, IN, recently took delivery of this 15' Marion Body Works Rescue. In addition to its all-aluminum alloy extruded body, this rescue squad comes equipped with: Cummins ISL 350 HP Engine 3,000 Watt Light Tower 20 KW Onan PTO Driven Generator 21,000 lb. Front GAWR 33,000 lb. Rear GAWR 54,000 lb. Total GVWR And More! Specifications (PDF)

2014 - The department will be receiving a new walk around resuce truck with Hoosier Fire Equipment coming in at the lowest bid of $301, 455.00.

2016 - Mar 18 - Culver Union Township Fire Department Searching for New Recruits

2014 - Dec 31 - Smoke detectors will soon be handed out to residents of Culver and the surrounding community. Culver-Union Township Fire Chief Terry Wakefield told the town council last night his department is collecting smoke detectors to give out. Their action was prompted by a recent fatal house fire in which the home’s lone occupant died of smoke inhalation because the home lacked a smoke detector.

The Culver-Union Township Fire Department has an authorized strength of 18 (20) personnel

2017 - Jan 3 - Culver Town Council voted Tuesday to encumber the department’s remaining 2016 funds to purchase several items.

$10,000 for a backup generator for the fire station

spreader tools - a set of two of the tools, for a cost of just under $3,000.

A new carbon monoxide detector for just over $1,300.

2017 - Mar 30 - Crisis in Culver: fire department suffering from lack of volunteers, safety concerns arise...

The fire department had just 18 volunteer firefighters as of Thursday morning, but hours later one firefighter turned in his resignation, after ten years of service with the department, leaving them with 17 on the force.

"We used to turn people away because we had too many, and now we're where we don't get any applications to join," says Chief Terry Wakefield...>

"We've had three applications in three years," says Wakefield.>

He barely has any volunteers. There are less than 20 firefighters to serve a population of under 4,000...

Although the simple solution is to get more volunteers, it's just not that easy.>

"It's a big commitment. It's not great pay, it's volunteer and you're getting a stipend," explains Leist.

"There's a lot of training involved and you're putting your life at risk."

2017 - June 23 - The department lost another member due to moving out of town - the department down to 17 members from a high of 23. Recieved an application from a former Culver firefighter, Adam Behnke and gained approval from the council for proceeding with training.

2017 - Oct. - Five members of the Culver-Union Township Fire Department were recently recognized for 10 years of service. Pictured from left to right, Indiana Volunteer Firefighter Association presenter John Grolich, and CUTFD members Walt Hanselman, Bob Cooper, Jerry Siler, Taylor Simpson, and Dave McKee.

2017 - Satistics

2018 - Oct- Current Officers include:

Chief - Terry Wakefield
Asst Chief - Ken VanDePutte
Secretary/Treasurer - Dave Cooper
Captain - Pete Peterson
Training Officer - Robert Cooper, III
Safety Officer - Open

2018 - Aug - and early 2019 - Fundraising for Aerial Fire Truck

2019 - Aug 19 - Open House - Celebration of anniversary of the fire department. Jerry Siler (14 years), Anthony Bonine (2 years), John Miller (22 years), Taylor Simpson (11 years), Dave Cooper 31 years), Chief Terry Wakefield (33 years), Robert Cooper Jr. (13 years), and Pete Pederson (25 years),

2019 - Aug 19 - Chief Terry Wakefield with Jim Grover who served for 39 years.

2019 - Terry Wakfield ends his tenure as Chief as of Dec. 31. but will remain on with the department and finish projects he started.

2020 - Chief: Ken Van De Putte

2020 - Jan 16 - Erik Larson becomes a member of the department.

2020 - Mar 9 - New Sign for the fire department building - dedicated to the memory of Lance Overmyer, Fire Chief 1993-2006. Given by Tim Overmyer, Lance's brother.

2020 - May 18 - Mural on Culver-Union Township Fire House to Begin Monday Inspiration photos provided by the Culver-Union Township Public Library The painting of a Culver history-themed mural will begin today on the eastern exterior wall of the Culver-Union Township Fire Department. Indiana muralists Mike Graves and Dan Thompson will continue to work through the week, depending on the weather. ...

2020 - Oct 25 - Open house for "Ladder Truck 1"

The Culver-Union Township Fire Department’s new aerial truck was officially put into service Monday.


Residents had a chance to take a look at the new ladder truck during a fire department open house. Monday’s celebration followed more than two years of work and fundraising.

Former Fire Chief Terry Wakefield, who spearheaded the fundraising, says the department was scheduled to get a new pumper truck anyway but wanted one with additional capabilities. He notes that the fire department’s budget alone would not have been able to cover the $1,008,000 cost. The Town of Culver, Union Township, Culver Academies, and almost 170 individual donors helped chip in.



Each person, family, business, or organization that donated was recognized on a banner displayed during Monday’s open house.



Wakefield expects the truck to last for 40 years.

2020 - Dec 16 - Ken VanDePutte on his retirement from the Culver-Union Twp. Fire Department! Ken has served with CUTFD for the past 25 years and concluded his last year of service as the Fire Chief.

2021 - Apr. - New turnout gear and helmets that have been placed in service are color coordinated to represent the various ranks of the department. Chiefs wear white helmets, officers wear red helmets, firefighters are in black helmets, and our cadets are in blue. Previous gear was approaching its 10 year life span and needed to be replaced in order to meet industry safety standards.

2023 - CUTFD currently has

• (2) Engine/Pumpers
• (1) 3,000 Gallon Pumper/Tanker
• (1) Resuce squad
• (2) Grass Rigs
• (2) Fire Boats (Pontoon Pumper
• portable rescue John Boat

Culver Fire currently has 18 Members (all volunteers), ranging in age from 18, to "Seventy something". Current Officers include:

• Chief - Terry Wakefield
• Asst Chief - Robert Cooper, III
• Secretary/Treasurer - Anthony Bonine
• Captain- Walt Hanselman
• Training Officer Jerry Siler
• Safety Officer - Open

1903-1913 ~~~ 1914-1923 ~~~ 1924-1933 ~~~ 1934-1943 ~~~ 1944-1953 ~~~ 1954-1963 ~~~ 1964-1973 ~~~ 1974-1983 ~~~ 1984-1993 ~~~ 1994-2003 ~~~ 2004-2013 ~~~ 2014-2023 /Present ~~~