Wayne Township Fire Department Indianapolis

Wayne Township Fire Department – Station 84 took full advantage of today’s incredible weather to get outside and put in some valuable vehicle extrication training.

Engine 84 and Ladder 84 worked through multiple scenarios, running all of their tools through their paces while focusing on vehicle stabilization and patient removal techniques, including operations involving an inverted vehicle. These types of hands-on evolutions are critical to maintaining the precision and efficiency our crews bring to real-world emergencies.

Our Special Operations Division dedicates countless hours to refining these skills. With warmer weather ahead, opportunities like this become more frequent, allowing our firefighters to train harder, move faster, and stay ready for whatever comes next.

Wayne Township Fire Department, with assistance from Speedway and Avon Fire Departments, responded to a building fire this afternoon in the 1800 block of N. Expo Lane on the west side of Indianapolis.

Units were initially dispatched for a building alarm, which was upgraded to a working fire upon arrival. Firefighters discovered a commercial building used to manufacture large custom aquariums, where workers were in the process of producing a custom aquarium section in their primary furnace when a fire was identified in the furnace’s ventilation system.

The fire quickly extended into the roof structure, producing heavy smoke throughout the building. First-arriving engine crews rapidly stretched attack lines and advanced deep into the interior, while ladder companies deployed personnel to the roof to perform vertical ventilation and conduct searches for any occupants.

The fire was brought under control in approximately 30 minutes. No injuries were reported. The incident resulted in several thousand dollars in damage, primarily to specialized equipment essential to the company’s operations. The fire was ultimately contained to the furnace and the roof area surrounding the ventilation system.

This incident highlights the importance of early detection systems and a coordinated, multi-agency response in limiting fire spread and protecting both lives and property.

The nice turn of weather is being grabbed up by in-duty crews this week. Ladder 82 was out this morning practicing commercial roof operations. Keep the nice weather coming, Mother Nature.

Captain Matt Stewart began his fire service journey as a volunteer in August 1987 and was hired full-time in December 1999, building a distinguished career that included service as Captain at Station 82, Academy Director, Deputy Chief, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief, and, most recently, Captain on Engine 82.

A Ben Davis High School graduate (Class of 1988), Matt also served with the Brownsburg Fire Department and became a member of Indiana Task Force 1, deploying to Ground Zero for 10 days following 9/11. He helped grow Indiana Smoke Divers into a nationally recognized training program and has been part of the FDIC Indy team since 2002.

A recipient of multiple honors, including Valor, Merit, Bravery, the Chief’s Award, Training Excellence, and a Unit Commendation, Matt’s greatest pride remains his wife, Keeley, and their sons, Kie, Nate, Logan, and Ryke.

Please join us in celebrating Captain Stewart’s retirement on Monday, March 16, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Wayne Township Fire Department Station 82 — 5405 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN.

2:00 AM Sunday March 8, 2026

⏰ Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour before going to bed Saturday night.

While you’re making the change, the Wayne Township Fire Department encourages everyone to also take a moment to:

Test all smoke alarms in your home
Check or replace batteries if needed
Test your carbon monoxide alarms
Review your home fire escape plan with your family
Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half, and making sure they are functioning properly only takes a minute.
As we move into longer days and warmer weather, it’s a great reminder that a small safety check today can make a big difference when it matters most.

From all of us at the Wayne Township Fire Department, stay safe and enjoy the extra daylight! 🚒

We are proud to announce three new firefighters were sworn in to service last night as they graduated from the West Central Fire Academy. These firefighters take to the streets starting on Saturday March 7th after more than 21 weeks of recruit academy training.