Protecting ClayTownship for over 50 years

Prior to ClayTownship providing it's own fire protection, they contracted with the city of South Bend's fire department.  In March of 1947, the township trustee was told by the South Bend Board of Public Works that in 1948 the cost of fire protection would be 1% of the townships assessed value.  At that time the assessed value of Clay Twp. was 600,000 making the cost of fire protection $6000 annually, which was a increase of $4000 over the $2000 the township paid in 1947.

On June 11, 1947 the township trustee and his advisory board announced at a meeting , that the township would purchase firefighting equipment and start it's own fire department.  Near the end of January 1948, the first pumper was delivered and put into service.  The truck was housed at the high school in a garage that was not being used and 3 full time firefighters were hired and 70 volunteers were trained.

Clay Township Fire Department was the first township fire department in St. JosephCounty, and the first with paid firefighters.

Truck 1 a 1947 Ford with body by American Fire Apparatus 500 gpm American Marsh Pump.