A new leader of the Bargersville Fire Department has been named.
Eric Funkhouser began as chief of the department on Jan. 1. Funkhouser will oversee two stations, 38 full-time employees and about 25 reserve firefighters.
Jason Ramey, the previous chief, is now the leader of the training division. His new duties as training division chief will include helping keep firefighters current with certificates and training, running educational programs and helping with media relations.
Ramey was the chief for about seven years. He left the top job to follow his passion to work in the training division and wanted more time to spend with his family, he said.
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"The department could use fresh eyes to decide where we go next," Ramey said.
Funkhouser is looking for ways to support the firefighters and employees in the department, how to grapple with the population growth Bargersville is experiencing and on strengthening relationships with bordering fire departments, Funkhouser said.
The fire department responds to about 2,000 calls a year and also runs its own ambulance service, Ramey said.
Funkhouser has been with the department since October 1999, when he started as a part-time reserve at 21 years old. He began working as a full-time firefighter in March 2006.
