Portage board approves fire gear purchases

PORTAGE | The Board of Works on Monday approved two purchases of equipment for the Portage Fire Department.

Portage Fire Department answers more than 3,900 calls in 2012

PORTAGE | Portage firefighters had another busy year in 2012, answering a total of 3,924 calls.

Worker at Port of Indiana business extricated from equipment

PORTAGE | A worker at a Port of Indiana business was seriously injured Friday and had to be extricated from a large piece of equipment.

Portage Fire Department realigns administation

PORTAGE | The Portage Fire Department has realigned its administrative staff by creating a new position, division chief of turn operations.

Board approves new city phone system

PORTAGE | The Board of Works on Thursday morning approved a contract with Comcast to install and maintain a new telephone system for the city.

Portage looks to buy new ambulance

PORTAGE | The Board of Works this week authorized seeking bids for a new ambulance.

3 new Portage firefighters sworn in

PORTAGE | Jordan Bucy was about to take his oath as one of the newest Portage firefighters Monday when Fire Chief Tom Fieffer asked Bucy if he wished his dad was there.

Portage Fire Chief addresses the Portage Exchange Club

PORTAGE | Portage Fire Chief Tom Fieffer spoke at the October 24 meeting of the Portage Exchange Club. Although it was his day off, he came to the 7 a.m. breakfast meeting, explaining, “I wouldn’t miss it! One of the things I enjoy most is talking about the fire department.”

Cooler donation could help save lives

PORTAGE | A donation from a local industry and a change in emergency medical protocol may give residents who've suffered a heart attack a better chance at survival.

Redevelopment Commission to contribute to city technology program

PORTAGE | The Redevelopment Commission on Wednesday approved a contribution of up to $40,000 to help the city solve its computer woes.

Portage Fire Department receives fitness award

PORTAGE | The Portage Fire Department recently was named runner-up in the Leadership in Fitness Excellence competition.

Marine 1 has assisted in 10 calls so far

PORTAGE | Portage's new fire/rescue boat, launched just this summer, has seen its share of duty.

Portage to revamp computer system

PORTAGE | Portage Fire Chief Tom Fieffer told officials this week that the city's computer system is a "roll of the dice every day."

Portage employees rescue ducklings from storm drain

PORTAGE | What started out as a scary morning for five ducklings Tuesday turned out just ducky.

Fire department requesting increase in ambulance fees

PORTAGE | Fire Department officials want to increase ambulance fees for residents and nonresidents.

Portage considering new fire department fees

PORTAGE | The city will consider some new fees for services provided by the fire department and increasing others.

Public safety agencies seek to meet FCC bandwidth mandate

Some public safety departments in Northwest Indiana are already prepared to meet the FCC's Jan. 1 deadline for narrowbanding. Some -- like Portage -- are in midstream, and others are still investigating what they have to do to meet the deadline.

Portage house fire under investigation

PORTAGE | The Portage Fire Department is investigating the cause of a fire that caused severe damage to a home Monday night.

City official looking to store records

PORTAGE | The Board of Works on Monday approved a contract with Diversified Research and Development of Portage to store documents for the clerk-treasurer's office.