By Andrew Harp
The Evening News and the Tribune
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — Utica Township Fire Protection District Board of Trustees Board President Kelly Khuri presented an update to the Clark County Commissioners on the fire district, which has had an eventful past year and a half.
Khuri said on Thursday that past updates to the commissioners have been “dismal” at times, however, she said progress has been made.
| READ NEXT: Your volunteer retention playbook: 4 challenges and solutions
Last summer, as a response to the Jeffersonville City Council dissolving a proposed fire territory with the district, Utica Fire & Rescue was created, which is an all-volunteer department.
Fire protection in this area has been challenging after the previous provider, New Chapel EMS, was ousted by the fire district.
Former board president Joe Jarles stepped down from his position to serve as the chief.
Khuri said the district was in debt almost $1 million on payments for three fire vehicles that were purchased by the previous administration which was led by former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, the former CEO of New Chapel.
Since then, the department has sold two of the three vehicles to area Southern Indiana departments. They intend to sell the third vehicle as well. They also sold an unused firehouse.
Jarles said that they have ended up with 37 firefighters on the roster, with 20 of them taking their Firefighter 1 and 2 tests before the end of the year. These firefighters have completed their training hours to be able to take the test.
He said there is now a waiting list of recruits looking to attend their next training classes.
He said they also have been able to purchase new bunker and personal protection equipment as well. This includes three sets of rescue tools and a flood boat. The commissioners also donated a support truck.
Jarles also said that a general obligation bond of $900,000 was taken out by the previous administration in 2017. He said they will be able to put in reserves the amount of money that it takes to pay off that bond sometime in 2026.
Also, Jarles said that a mutual aid agreement is currently being worked out with the Anchorage Middletown Fire Department in Prospect, Kentucky.
With this agreement, they’ll be able to cover each other’s sides of the East End Bridge if it’s inaccessible for either department.
Jarles said that their medical response program has also developed along with a new assistant chief that is heading it, who is a medical battalion chief in Jefferson County.
The department will start off as a basic life support non-transport department and then transition to an advanced life support non-transport department. He said they now have close to 20 advanced EMTs or paramedics.
Khuri and Jarles thanked their volunteers and supporters for providing their time and equipment donations to the department.
Jarles said that training centers in New Albany, Fern Creek, Anchorage Middletown and Paoli have been utilized thanks to the allowance of the respective fire departments.
“I can’t even name all the departments that have helped us,” he said.
The original goal for Jarles was to have the department essentially fully operational by Jan. 1, 2026. Khuri said this goal will be met.
“We’ll be waiting for the call,” she said.
© 2025 The Evening News and The Tribune (Jeffersonville, Ind.).
Visit newsandtribune.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
