Frankfort Fire Department Deputy Chief Josh Uitts used a recent appearance on WILO’s “Party Line” program to update residents on the city’s newest fire engine, construction of Station 4 and changing fire risks as spring burning season ramps up.
There will be a “Fire Engine Blessing Ceremony” at 5pm Thursday, April 16 at Fire Station #3 on Barner Street in Frankfort. Hoosierland TV also plans to attend, live stream and video archive the event.
Veteran firefighter reflects on 26-year career
Uitts, who has served with the Frankfort Fire Department for 26 years, said he still looks forward to coming to work. “There’s never been a day that I got up and didn’t want to go to work,” he said, adding that he quickly came to appreciate “the kind of gentlemen” who trained him and “taught me how to be a responsible person and a protective member of the community.”
He said he entered the fire service in his early 20s after encouragement from a friend and distant relative, fire inspector Kevin Catron, who told him the department offered stable, long-term employment and a way to support a family while giving back.
Uitts credited his mother with shaping that mindset. “She said, I don’t care what you guys do when you grow up…as long as you’re giving back to society I’ll be fine with it,” he recalled. “So we all kind of took that to heart and here I am.”
Technology improves safety, but fires more dangerous
Uitts said the department’s equipment and tools have changed dramatically since he started. When he joined the department, there was one desktop computer in the station, no computers on trucks and self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs) were fully mechanical.
“Now everything has electronics on it and is much more sophisticated, much more safe,” he said. “We’re definitely safer now than we were.” At the same time, he warned that structure fires themselves have become more hazardous.
“Fires are more dangerous now because of the way buildings are built and the contents of the buildings,” Uitts explained. Modern furniture and carpet made from synthetic, petroleum‑based materials burn “much faster, much hotter” and produce more toxic smoke, he said.
He also pointed to modern lightweight truss construction with metal gussets, which can fail quickly under fire conditions. “Once metal reaches a certain temperature those gussets will pop off and cause those roof members to fail,” Uitts said.
New Engine 3 nearly ready for service
Uitts said a major equipment upgrade is on the way as the department brings a new engine into service. He recently returned from Bradenton, Florida, where a small team conducted a final inspection of the new truck. The truck has now arrived in Frankfort and awaits a “Blessing Ceremony” Thursday April 16th at 5PM at station #3.
“We drove the truck, pumped with it, it’s ready to go,” he said. “They just have you come down and literally go through the specification sheet,” which he estimated at roughly 400 items. The group spent about six hours checking the engine from top to bottom, finding only cosmetic issues for the manufacturer to correct.
Uitts said he expects the truck to be delivered to the area dealership in Whitestown and placed in service “in short order,” noting that the build took about 10 months — faster than the two‑year timeline the city originally anticipated. (Note: The truck has now arrived)
The new engine will replace one of two 2006 trucks that have seen increasing mechanical issues as parts become harder to find. Uitts said the department is exploring whether it can combine the two older engines into one reliable backup unit, a key requirement for maintaining the city’s improved ISO Class 3 fire insurance rating.
“In the interest of being fiscally responsible and trying to do our part to help the city…the council and the mayor have done a great job of seeing the importance of the fire department and investing in that,” he said. “We’re going to try, if it’s feasible, to make one good truck out of the two.”
Station 4 construction on schedule
Uitts said work on the new Station 4 on the west side of Frankfort is progressing well and remains on schedule. He attends a monthly progress meeting with the builder and said the structure is “getting real close to being under roof.”
The project is planned for substantial completion around June 25, meaning the building will be under roof with systems in place and ready for a final punch list. “That doesn’t mean that’s the move‑in date,” Uitts cautioned, noting that crews will then walk the building and flag any remaining issues, similar to the process used with the new engine.
Uitts praised the contractor’s on‑site leadership and said crews have been working weekends and taking advantage of good weather. “Building a building is a big deal and you’ve got to keep your eye on it,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate with these folks that we’re working with. They’ve done a good job.”
Spring controlled burns and safety reminders
With warmer weather returning, Uitts said controlled burns are keeping firefighters busy across Frankfort’s fire territory. Residents commonly burn brush piles, fencerows and grass fields, and Uitts emphasized that the department is not seeking to end those practices.
“All we ask is that you call central dispatch and say, hey, we’re going to be burning some brush here,” he said. He asked residents to remain on site for the entire burn, warning that unattended fires “can get out of control in a hurry,” especially with ongoing dry conditions and frequent winds.
“You have to be cognizant of the weather conditions when you’re a firefighter,” Uitts said, adding that even a light breeze can carry embers into nearby fields or structures.
Mentoring the next generation
Uitts said the department recently hired four new firefighters and he enjoys offering guidance as they start their careers. He tells them they have “hit the jackpot” with a profession that is rewarding and strongly supported by the community.
(As a Fireman) “Make sure you always remember that the fire department doesn’t owe you anything, you owe it everything,” he said. He also reminds new hires that they are joining a “second family” and encourages them to “listen twice as much as you talk” as they learn from veteran firefighters.
