Volunteer Fire Department of Franklin Township

03/30/2026

03/25/2026

Smoke in the area is due to a large controlled burn in the O'Bannon woods. With the wind direction smoke is heading into Washington County.

02/24/2026

Today at approximately 10:20 am, the Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Washington County Ambulance Service were dispatched to a medical emergency that resulted in a scene flight with Air Methods Corydon.

02/19/2026

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 10
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
115 PM EST Thu Feb 19 2026

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of
Southeast Illinois
Southern Indiana
Western and Central Kentucky

* Effective this Thursday afternoon and evening from 115 PM until
900 PM EST.

* Primary threats include...
A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes possible
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
inches in diameter possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

SUMMARY...Thunderstorm development is anticipated this afternoon
from southeast Illinois into southern Indiana and western/central
Kentucky. In these areas, increasing low-level moisture will lead to
airmass destabilization. Strong vertical shear is in place,
supporting the potential for some of these storms to organize into
supercells. All severe hazards are possible with any supercells that
develop, including very large hail greater than 2" in diameter and
tornadoes. Low-level shear is strong enough to support the potential
for a strong (EF2+) tornado.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 75 statute miles
north and south of a line from 50 miles west of Evansville IN to 50
miles east northeast of Louisville KY. For a complete depiction of
the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU0).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

02/10/2026

On February 06, at approximately 10:55 am, members of emergency services responded to a single vehicle accident, on Whiskey Run Road.

Deputies arrived on the scene and identified the driver as Rylan Chism, age 20 of Borden, Indiana.

Chism stated he was traveling westbound on Whiskey Run Road, when he met an eastbound driver that was driving left of center. Chism said he veered to the right to avoid being hit and the snow pulled his vehicle off the roadway, where he vehicle rolled over and came to a rest in a creek. Chism received minor injuries during the crash.

Captain Joe Keltner is the lead investigating officer and was assisted by Deputy Dylan Johnson, New Pekin Town Marshal Jeff Thomas, the Washington County Ambulance Service and members of the Pierce/Polk and Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Departments.

Photo provided by Capt. Keltner.

01/25/2026

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas and warm wishes from our family to yours!

12/02/2025

Heavy snow is falling in the area. State and County roads have accumulated snow. Allow extra time for travel.

09/23/2025

From the Washington County Commissioners: The Washington County Burn ban has been lifted.

09/11/2025

The Washington County Commissioners have issued a County-Wide Burn ban:

DISASTER EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
WASHINGTON COUNTY, INDIANA
BURN BAN

Date: 09/11/2025

WHEREAS, Washington County, Indiana is immediately threatened by a natural disaster-specifically county wide drought condition, and,
WHEREAS, as of the 11th day of September 2025 at 11:15 hours we find that Washington County to be at risk of widespread fire hazards because of ongoing drought conditions and.
WHEREAS a county wide burn ban affecting certain activities is an appropriate public safety response to the fire hazards presented by the current drought conditions.
NOW THEREFORE, we, the Washington County Board of Commissioners, declare, pursuant to the provisions of IC 10-14-3-29, that a state of emergency exists in the County and that we hereby invoke and declare those portions of the Indiana Code which are applicable to the conditions and have caused the issuance of this proclamation, to be in full force and effect in the County for the exercise of all necessary emergency authority for protection of the lives and property of the people of Washington County.
We also declare that effective immediately, the following activities are prohibited in Washington County:
1. Campfires and other recreational fires, unless they are enclosed in a fire ring with dimensions of 23 inches in diameter X 10 inches high or larger; in a cleared area.

2. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood, or other combustible matter, with the exception of grills fueled by charcoal briquettes or propane. Charcoal from permitted grills shall not be removed from the grills until the charcoal has been thoroughly extinguished.

3. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation, results from building construction activities.
In addition, we strongly encourage our residents to attend public displays of fireworks and limit their personal use of fireworks to those that do not leave the ground, and that they refrain from using aerial firework devices.
Reference is hereby made to all appropriate laws, statutes, ordinances, and resolutions and particularly to Section 10-14-3-29 of the Indiana Code.

All public offices and employees of Washington County are hereby directed to exercise the utmost diligence in the discharge of duties required of them for the duration of the emergency and in ex*****on of emergency laws, regulation, and directives whether state or local.
All residents are called upon and directed to comply with necessary emergency measures, to cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executing emergency operations plans, and to obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.
All operating forces will direct their communications and requests for assistance and operations directly to the Emergency Operations Center.
This Disaster Emergency Proclamation shall be in effect until September 19, 2025. At that time the Washington County Board of Commissioners shall revisit the emergency to decide if the need for extension of the emergency proclamation is necessary.

IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hand on this 11th day of September 2025.
WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: