INLAND TOWNSHIP -- Inland Township is now home to the newest fire department in Benzie County.

Thursday morning, officials opened the doors to their new facility.

“Not only are we starting a brand new department, but we are staring it in the worst economy we have seen in years with the worst fire danger we have seen in years,” said Jeff Morse, Inland Township Fire Department Chief.

Officials in Inland Township said the new department will help them save them money. Until now, Inland tax payers forked over thousands of dollars to fire departments in Almire and Homestead.

Having a department of their own allows officials to keep tax dollars in Inland Township.

“The millage that passed a couple years ago generated around $80,000 a year. We were spending about $75,000 of that on fire contracts with other departments. That will no longer be the case. That money will be kept here,” Morse said.

Over the past 15 years, Inland Township has seen its population double. That increase is another reason officials say they want their own, independent department.

“Our township is growing. We are right next to Traverse City and we've seen our population surge…With the amount of people we have and the school we have, it would be to our benefit to have our own fire department,” said Inland Township Trustee Mary Miller.

Chief Morse is equally confident that the new department will better serve his community. According to Morse, the response time on fire calls may be cut in half.