In Indiana, township trustees play a vital role in ensuring fire protection for residents in unincorporated areas, which are communities outside of established cities and towns. Indiana law requires trustees, by statute (IC 36-8-13), to provide fire protection for their township. Trustees have some flexibility in how they deliver these services. They can either choose to operate their own dedicated fire department, authorized under Indiana Code (IC 36-8), or they can contract with an existing fire department to cover the area. Funding for these fire protection services typically comes from property taxes collected within the township. Spencer township contracts with the Spencer Township Volunteer Fire Department to provide these services.