Harrison Township fire department schedules April 18 fish fry fundraiser

The Harrison Township Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department will serve its annual fish fry at 53029 Old Rt. 50 in Londonderry, with all proceeds going back to the volunteers who protect the area.

The fundraiser is set for Saturday, April 18, starting tentatively at 2 p.m. Dinners will cost $12 and include three pieces of fish, beans, potato salad, a drink and a choice of white, wheat or rye bread. Fish sandwiches will be sold for $6, and both carryout and dine-in service will be available.

The fish fry comes at a time when Harrison Township Fire Department says its crews are answering nearly 8,000 calls each year. Township information says all personnel are EMTs or paramedics, and the department runs one fire engine, one ladder truck and two Advanced Life Support ambulances.

That workload goes beyond emergency runs. The department also handles fire suppression, medical aid, rescue services, inspections, code reviews, CPR classes and fire safety talks. For a volunteer department, that means fundraiser dollars help keep the operation moving while the calls keep coming.

The event is also part of an established local tradition. A similar Harrison Township fish fry was held last year, with serving beginning at 2 p.m. at the same firehouse address and with the same dine-in and carryout format. The Vinton County Convention and Visitors Bureau also lists this year’s fundraiser, underscoring its place as a familiar community gathering in Vinton County.

Township materials identify Fire Chief Mike Crist, while a county services page lists Chief Dale Cartee and the department phone number as 740-887-2727. However the department is listed, the message behind the fish fry is the same: a low-cost meal in Londonderry will help support the emergency response network that serves Harrison Township day after day.