DeKalb County Residents Face Fire Service Gap as Auburn Fire Refuses To Respond Without Payment

Residents in Jackson Township left without reliable fire coverage

Residents of Jackson Township in DeKalb County are facing a dangerous gap in fire and emergency services as the City of Auburn has stopped responding to calls in the township without compensation.

Auburn Mayor Dave Clark issued an urgent public notice on Friday to residents of Jackson Township after the city ended its contracted fire protection services in December 2025.

Despite this decision, Auburn Fire continued to respond to emergency calls in Jackson Township for the last 16 weeks due to delayed or non-response from Jackson Township Fire Department dispatch.

Auburn Fire requests payment for services

Auburn Fire requested payment for their services from January to March of 2026 as the primary fire and emergency response agency during this period. The Jackson Township Trustee acknowledged receiving the request but refused payment for Auburn Fire's services.

During this time, Auburn Fire responded to multiple calls after Jackson Township Fire had not responded to dispatch for eight minutes. Auburn Fire was later called to disregard the call while en route to the emergency.

"These situations have created an operational environment that simply is not sustainable for the city. Our firefighters are committed to helping people, but there has to be clear responsibility and accountability for emergency services," Mayor Clark said.

Mayor Clark questions who is responsible

The lack and delay of service have prompted discussions about long-term solutions to ensure residents get help when they need it most.

"Fire protection should not be viewed only from a cost perspective, as there are other important factors that need to be considered," Mayor Clark said. "Elected officials who are responsible for these services need to ask themselves one simple question. Can you put a price on a life. For me that answer is no."

At this time, the notice states that Auburn Fire will no longer respond to Jackson Township when calls result from the township's failure to respond. Exceptions to this statement include first alarm structure fires, mass casualty incidents, large-scale emergencies, or situations where Jackson Township Fire is already committed to another call.

Residents urged to take action

The city's first responsibility is to the residents and taxpayers who fund these services, Mayor Clark said. We strongly encourage Jackson Township leadership to address these ongoing concerns and make sure residents have dependable fire and emergency protection moving forward.

Residents are encouraged to reach out to the Jackson Township Trustee, Audra Wilcox at 260-925-2945, reach out to the Jackson Township Advisory Board, and attend township board meetings.

Residents may also contact the DeKalb County Commissioners or the Indiana Public Access Counselor at www.in.gov/pac or by phone at 1-800-457-8283.

Possible long-term solutions being discussed

City officials noted that Auburn Fire has no statutory obligation to routinely respond outside city jurisdiction. Jackson Township has not provided reciprocal mutual aid support to Auburn Fire in more than five years. Because of that, city leaders believe Auburn taxpayers should not continue subsidizing emergency response services for another jurisdiction without compensation or mutual support.

If a township cannot provide adequate fire protection on its own, then long-term solutions need to be seriously discussed instead of relying on temporary fixes. Possible options could include township mergers, county-created fire districts, or joining an existing fire territory.

For example, if Jackson Township joined a fire territory with the City of Auburn and Union Township, residents would likely see a tax increase tied directly to improved fire protection services. That increase would cover Jackson Township's share of operating and capital expenses, including a permanent fully staffed fire station within the township.

Auburn Fire Department would not financially benefit from that arrangement, as any additional funding would only cover the cost of expanded services. The department would also need to hire six additional full-time firefighters to staff another station around the clock, every day of the year.

Public Protection Classification ratings differ significantly

Mayor Clark also pointed to the difference in Public Protection Classification ratings. Jackson Township's current PPC rating is estimated to be in the high 7 or low 8 range, while Auburn currently maintains a low 3 rating and continues working toward a high 2 rating. The difference largely comes from the staffing model between a volunteer department and a fully staffed professional department. Improved PPC ratings can often help homeowners and businesses lower insurance costs because of reduced fire risk.

A serious incident that was reported to the mayor's office on May 7, 2026, added to those concerns. Auburn Fire was dispatched to a major medical emergency after Jackson Township Fire had been toned out three times over a 7-to-8-minute period without response.

Auburn Fire responded immediately, arrived within minutes, and assisted medical personnel in treating the patient. This incident highlighted the critical need for reliable emergency response services in Jackson Township.