Steve Auch was born May 16‚ 1954‚ in Indianapolis‚ Indiana‚ to Carl and Betty Auch. He suffered a fatal heart attack at home after returning from a 24-hour shift.

Steve followed his father‚ IFD Firefighter Carl Auch on the department and was appointed to the IFD on March 3‚ 1978. His assignments included Engine 21‚ Engine 12‚ and Engine 11. In 1986‚ he was promoted to lieutenant. He served on Rescue 19‚ Rescue 2‚ Battalion 2 aide‚ and shift EMS duty officer until his promotion to captain in 1999. As captain‚ he served on Medic Squad 10‚ Engine 11‚ and as chief of EMS from 2001-2007. In 2003‚ Steve was promoted to battalion chief; he was appointed Battalion Chief 11-A in 2007 until his death.

He was an EMT/paramedic and was certified in BERT‚ HAZMAT‚ TOSS‚ and Instructor 1 & 2. He was active with Peace Camp‚ the World Police and Fire Games‚ and FDIC. He attended Manchester College.

Steve was an avid competitive bicyclist for many years. He loved to play golf and was an avid sports fan. His enthusiasm for and optimistic view of his beloved Indianapolis Colts football team was well known.

The firefighters in Steve’s battalion would be the first to say they had the best battalion chief on the job. ‘He was knowledgeable and fair. He really took care of his firefighters.’

Steve was one of the original IFD members who worked on FDIC since its first year in Indianapolis in 1995. He worked tirelessly and without complaint year-round on every aspect of FDIC planning – from obtaining sites for hands-on training to lining up local dignitaries to speak at the opening ceremony to obtaining ‘firehouse’ furniture for the stage for Bruno ‘Unplugged‚’ an FDIC favorite.

Steve leaves behind his beloved wife‚ Donna; children‚ Heather (Dave) Albrecht‚ Bradley (Jessica) Nichols‚ and Laura (Chris) Hamilton; mother‚ Betty Auch; brother‚ IFD Cpt. Matt (Tina) Auch; sister‚ Carol (Mike) Farquhar; and six grandsons‚ Drew‚ Joel and Nick Albrecht‚ and Micah‚ Landon and Owen Hamilton.