Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department Pre-Merger - Station 4: Ben Davis Fire Station/Department

Throughout the 1970's Wayne Township grew dramatically, requiring a total of 9 stations, many of which were single engine houses. During the 1970/80's many of the stations had a unique and very bold color schemes which included bright and neon colored rigs.

Prior to 1999, Wayne Township had served as the largest and busiest volunteer fire department in the state with nearly 16,000 calls annually in the late 1990's. In late 1999 they moved to a combination department.

 
Station 4 with it's 3 rigs - circa 1976
Station 4 with it's 3 rigs - Circa 1976
The entire station was called the Ben Davis Fire Station to represent nearby Ben Davis Junior High.
This station eventually became Station 883. Station 4's mascot was the Tasmanian Devil. As you will see below, Station 4
colors went from red to orange and than back to white-over-red, which remains as the entire department's color scheme.
 
Former Engine 41 - Ford C6000 Pumper
Former Engine 41 - Ford C-6000 Pumper
This truck was replaced by the orange pumper down the page in the mid-1980's.
 
Engine Company 4 - 1974 Hendrickson/Howe - 1250gpm/800gal
Engine Company 4 - 1974 Hendrickson/Howe - 1250gpm/800gal
This apparatus eventually became Engine 40 and was the first-due engine at Station 4. After being replaced
in 1989, it was sold to Dublin Indiana where it was repainted yellow and eventually sold after service there.
 
Squad 42 - GMC/E-One Rescue Pumper
Squad 42 - GMC/E-One Rescue Pumper
Squad 42 was the second-out apparatus from Station 4. It was eventually replaced by Rescue 42 below.
 
Grass Rig 43 - Ford F-250
Grass Rig 43 - Ford F-250
 
Tanker 4 - Hendrickson/3-D 1250gpm/2000gal Pumper/Tanker
Tanker 4 "Big Ben"- Hendrickson/3-D 1250gpm/2000gal Pumper/Tanker
"Big Ben" responded from Station 4 to what was then a mostly rural area on the west side of Wayne Township.
 
Tanker 4 "Big Ben"- Hendrickson/3-D 1250gpm/2000gal Pumper/Tanker
Tanker 4 "Big Ben"- Hendrickson/3-D 1250gpm/2000gal Pumper/Tanker
Tanker 4 after a modern repainting. The cab was also enclosed in the back with sliding doors. In 2002, this truck was sold to
nearby Madison Township near Mooresville. A nearly identical rig still serves in Franklin as Engine 22
 
Former Engine 4 - 1989 Young/Simon Duplex Pumper - 1500gpm/1000gal
Former Engine 4 - 1989 Young/Simon Duplex Pumper - 1500gpm/1000gal
This truck replaced Engine 40 above in 1989.
 
Engine 41 - Ford Custom Cab/E-One Pumper
Engine 41 - Ford Custom Cab/E-One Pumper
Engine 41 was eventually sold to Stilesville VFD who had flames painted on the sides.
 
Rescue 42 - Collins/Spartan Walk-in Medium Rescue
Rescue 42 - Collins/Spartan Walk-in Medium Rescue
Rescue 42 was sold to nearby Stilesville VFD, who in turn sold it to Coatesville VFD. It was taken out of service in 1999.
 
Grass Rig 4 - 1997 Hummer/Fireattacker - 250gpm/300gal
Grass Rig 4 - 1997 Hummer/Fireattacker - 250gpm/300gal
Wayne Township is the only Marion County department to utilize a Hummer as a Grass Rig.
Grass Rig 4 was sold in late 2001 to a department in Colorado
 
Former Ambulance 4 - 1988 Chevy Urban Assault Vehicle
Former Ambulance 4 - 1988 Chevy Urban Assault Vehicle
This beast of an ambulance was very powerful and large for the time.
Special thanks to John Lacey, JT and former members of Wayne Township VFD for most of these pictures.


Wayne Township Fire Department