Luke Adams may only have eight months under his belt as deputy director of Montgomery County Emergency Management and Homeland Security, but he’s been a part of the public service field for years.
The 20-year-old Hillsboro resident started going on fire service calls as a teenager.
“I started in the public safety field because Dad started taking me on fire calls and I got really interested in it,” Adams said. “That sort of started my love for public service. I really enjoyed volunteering at the fire department.”
While a high school student at Fountain Central, Adams crossed county lines to attend the fire and emergency medicine classes offered at Southmont. Adams was grateful for the extensive vocational training he was provided. He coupled that classroom education with his practical, hands-on training as a volunteer firefighter.
“I really enjoyed the family atmosphere of being with the guys and helping the community,” Adams said. “Some people would say we are adrenaline junkies, and I can second that statement. I like going out in the middle of the night and seeing what’s going on and helping as much as I can.”
After graduating in 2021 from Fountain Central High School, Adams earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Ivy Tech Community College.
Two years ago, he started working part-time at Fountain County EMS, then a year ago started part-time at Warren County EMS, and eight months ago he started part-time at the Fountain County Coroner’s Office.
“I’ve really been doing a lot of things, all in the same field,” Adams said.
He has been a member of the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department for 5 1/2 years and currently serves on the board as secretary.
Over the course of the past few years, Adams has earned certifications in firefighting, fire inspection, emergency medicine, death investigation and incident command.
“In this career and this field, we do a lot of continuing education so I’m constantly going to training and seminars and conferences, so the learning doesn’t stop,” he said.
In his role as deputy director, Adams focuses mainly on planning and preparedness for community events, such as the Strawberry Festival and Ironman races. He also assists in locating and coordinating local, state, and federal resources related to incident response.
Adams helps maintain resources for the district, which includes Tippecanoe and surrounding counties.
“We have a couple mass casualty trailers, traffic equipment and other supplies that we store and maintain here,” Adams said.
Furthermore, his job duties include coordinating the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), which regulates and oversees HAZMAT materials and spills in the county.
Adams helps coordinate with other public service agencies, including fire, EMS, law enforcement, dispatch, highway department, health department and local government when needed
“We help keep everyone on the same page,” Adams said.
Adams and EMA Director Jessica Burget also are on call 24/7 for HAZMAT spills in the county.
One of the biggest challenges, Adams believes facing the EMA is debunking misconceptions.
“Not many people who aren’t in the public service field really seem to know what EMA is,” Adams said. “Since the state added Homeland Security to the title, it gives some people the impression that we are some big federal agency, but we are more local than people think, and we are here to help local agencies and the community.”
To promote awareness and education, EMA staff and CERT members often attend community events to share more details about the agency. The EMA also uses social media to encourage personal and community planning, particularly ahead of weather events that might impact the area.
Adams truly enjoys his budding career. He has every intention of staying in the public service sector and in the area.
“I like working with the people in the office and working with the other county agencies,” Adams said. “I don’t want to call myself nosy, but I like knowing what’s going on and I like working with others and if they need some assistance from our office, I’m more than willing to give it to them.”
In his free time, Adams enjoys spending time with friends and family, which includes his parents, Aaron and Mary Jo Adams, and brothers, Samuel, Joshua, twin Daniel, and Paul. Adams is recently engaged to long-time girlfriend, Taylor York. They plan to wed in 2025. He attends Hillsboro Nazarene Church, where he occasionally serves as a volunteer.
