05/21/2026
🚑 Throwback Thursday | EMS Edition 🚑
As we celebrate EMS Week, we wanted to take a moment to look back at the roots of emergency medical service in Whitestown.
In 1985, under the leadership of Chief John Hancock, four members of the Worth Township Fire Department completed the department’s very first EMT course. At the time, bringing EMS service to a small town volunteer fire department was no small task. Through the dedication and persistence of members like Greg Bedell, Rob Guest, Glenn Fisher, Chief Hancock, and many others, the foundation for EMS in Whitestown was built.
On July 30th, 1985, the department responded to its very first EMS call.
What started as a vision to provide better care for the community has grown into the EMS system Whitestown Fire Department provides today. From those first EMT classes and donated medical supplies to now staffing every apparatus with at least one paramedic and operating two transport ambulances, EMS has become a cornerstone of the service we provide every single day.
Today, WFD responds to over 2,000 calls annually, majority of which are EMS, with highly trained EMTs and Paramedics continuing the mission started over 40 years ago.
We are proud of the members who laid the groundwork before us and grateful for all EMS providers—past and present—who continue serving the Whitestown community with compassion, professionalism, and dedication.