Bluffton Fire Territory

05/08/2026

Member Spotlight:

-Matthew Burkholder: Full-time Firefighter

Matt began his fire service journey in 2013 with North Berrien Fire and Rescue in Michigan, where he built a strong foundation and passion for serving his community.

In 2021, he brought that dedication to Bluffton Fire Territory as a Paid On-Call firefighter. Through hard work and commitment, Matt continued to grow within the department, ultimately earning a full-time position in January 2026.

Matt’s journey is a great example of perseverance and dedication to the fire service. We’re proud to have him as part of our team and look forward to his continued impact on the department and the community.

05/08/2026

05/05/2026

04/11/2026

🚨Soap Sale🚨

The FOF will be taking soap orders from now until May 8th. To put in your order you may either make your way into the fire station or give the station a call on its administrative line. Below you will find a picture of the order form with all the available products options.

04/03/2026

Member Spotlight:

-Justin King : Paid On-Call Tactical Captain

Justin started his journey with Bluffton Fire Territory in April of 2003 at just 18 years old as a Paid-On-Call firefighter. Over the years, his commitment to the department and the community has led him through the ranks—being promoted to Paid-On-Call Lieutenant in 2013 and later serving as Tactical Captain.

Throughout his career, Justin has not only grown as a firefighter, but has also played a part in the growth of the department itself.

As Justin reflected on his 23 years in the fire service, this is what he had to say:�“I’m really grateful for all the men and women I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside. They’ve taught me a lot of lifelong skills, both on and off the job.
It’s been pretty amazing to see how much the department has grown over the past 23 years—from mainly paid on call with only one full time engineer per shift, to an almost fully staffed house. I’m proud to have been part of that journey and to keep serving the community.”

We’re proud to have Justin as part of our team and are thankful for his continued dedication and leadership.

04/03/2026

This morning our department hosted an Operation Prom event.

Operation Prom is a Mock Disaster/ Emergency that took place at the Wells County 4H Park that gave students step by step of the effects of distracted driving /Driving Impaired (alcohol or drugs). Our original plan for this event was to have all 3 county high schools in attendance, but due to timing and scheduling only Norwell High School, and Bluffton High School were able to attend. The message given to some 600 junior and senior students- If you drive Impaired, this could be you going to jail or worse, your parents could receive a knock on their door from the County Coroner explaining that their child died due to Impaired driving OR the other side of the coin is you could kill an innocent person by making bad decisions.

We would like to extend a big Thank you to everyone that were involved in making this event happen. Without their help, support, and donations this event would not have been possible:
- 4-H park, for allowing us to use their grounds for the event
- Mitch from Howell Rescue, for suppling the rescue tools used during the extraction
- Pemberton’s Garage & Freeman’s Towing, for each supply a vehicle
- Tony Heiser area 18 Fire 1&2 instructor, for send 4 of his students to be actors/victims
- The 4 students that were willing to play to part of victims
- Bluffton Fire Territory board members Kent Emshwiller, Andy Wolf, and John Petro, for assisting in directing buses and students
- Erin Daugherty State Farm and Archbold & Lewis Insurance for their donations that help purchase the Moulage Kit

And All Agencies involved in the Mock Disaster
- Wells County EMS
- Wells County Sheriff Department
- Bluffton Police Department
- Wells County EMA

04/02/2026

We’re proud to announce the promotion of Full-Time Firefighter/Engineer Cameron Rittmeyer to A-Shift Lieutenant.

Cameron is a hard-working, detail-oriented firefighter who consistently strives to better himself and the department by pursuing every training opportunity available. His dedication, leadership, and commitment to excellence make him a great fit for this role.

Please join us in congratulating Lieutenant Rittmeyer on this well-earned promotion. We’re excited to see him continue to grow and lead on A-Shift!

03/27/2026

Member Spotlight:

-George Springer: Paid On-Call Firefighter

George began his journey with the Bluffton Fire Territory as an intern from the winter of 2022 through the spring of 2023. Following his internship, he officially joined the department as a Paid-On-Call Firefighter in the summer of 2023.
In the spring of 2025, George earned his EMT certification, continuing to build his skills and better serve our community.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed. For 2025, George was recognized as:
- Top Paid-On-Call Responder
- Bluffton Fire Territory Firefighter of the Year
- Firefighter of the Year, for the all of Wells County award by the American Legion Post 111

When asked about his experience, George shared:
“The internship was amazing and I would really recommend it for anyone who is thinking about becoming a firefighter. I learned a lot from it, and all of the members of the fire department had a great influence on me. The fire service has taught me a lot in the short time I have been in—most notably grit and determination. You’ll never find the same camaraderie that you find in the fire service—that’s my favorite part about it. We’re brothers and sisters.”

George’s passion, determination, and team-first mindset make him an invaluable part of our department. We’re excited to see what the future holds for him!