For now, the Bainbridge Community Volunteer Fire Department is covering the Clinton Township area of Putnam County.  Hopes among the Walnut Creek Fire Protection District, which contracts with for fire coverage both, is that it won’t continue for too long.

The Walnut Creek District stepped inf ollowing the recent resignation of Clinton Township Fire Chief Jack Giles. At a meeting for the public Tuesday it was announced that they would terminate the contract with the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department as it currently exists.

Walnut Creek President Rusty Burch on the situation as it currently stands.

Burch said the effort now is to find a new fire chief. Then, that person will be responsible for interviewing and choosing volunteers for the newly formed department which would cover Clinton Township.

Will that department be called the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department?   The immediate answer would be no.  However, there is a way that it could be. If the department and its board were to choose to disband, then be brought back under the new umbrella, Walnut Creek leaders said it’s possible the name could go on. As it stands, the department under the old name still exists as a 501(c)(3) and so the name could not be used.

Walnut Creek also advised the audience, that included a handful of Clinton Township department members, that they are working with legal counsel in separating any personal and Clinton Township property so that it is properly allocated.

There’s no timetable as of now for the hiring of a new chief or to get a department back online that serves the immediate Clinton Township area.