Merrillville Fire Department
Station 2
"Independence Hill"

7905 Taft Street | Merrillville IN 46410 | Phone 219-769-2400 | Fax 219-736-0529
Emergency 9-1-1

The Independence Hill Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1944, the first fire department in Ross Township. The department was formed after a house burned down on the corner of U.S. 30 and Taft Street. The nearest fire department, located in Crown Point, was fighting another fire in Cedar Lake at the time. By the time they could respond to Merrillville the house was a loss. The founding members of the Independence Hill Volunteer Fire Department went door to door collecting money to build the original 2 bay cement block station. The first 2 pieces of equipment were a 1926 American La France pumper which was purchased from the La Porte Fire Department for $100.00 and a 1924 American La France Pumper which was donated by the Center Township / Crown Point Fire Department. In 19** a third bay was added to the station to house additional equipment. In 1998 the station was torn down to build a new station on the same site. The new station has 4 70-foot bays with 2 being drive through.