South Haven Area Emergency Services Authority

Fire Prevention Month is underway with visits to schools in the South Haven area. Visit our growing photo gallery – http://www.shaes.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=public:oct_2022

Our annual Fire Safety Fun Night sponsored by South Haven Area Emergency Services will be held Thursday, Oct. 13, at the department’s Station 3 on Blue Star Memorial Highway.

The free 15th annual event coincides with National Fire Prevention Week and is intended for both kids and adults. It will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Kids need to be accompanied by an adult. There will be live demonstrations and hands-on training, according to SHAES firefighter Amanda Quinn who coordinates the department's fire prevention education programs. There will also be prizes and complimentary refreshments.

Attendees are asked to park at the Moose Lodge across from the fire station on East Wells Street.

SHAES is inviting bids for the manufacture of a new 2,000 gallon pumper-tanker/tender to replace 1998 pumper/tanker. The deadline for submitting bids is November 10.

See document – http://www.shaes.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=public:tanker_2236

SHAES is seeking applicants to establish an eligibility list for future CAREER Firefighter / Paramedics.

SHAES serves its community with pride, integrity and courage every single day, keeping a positive attitude and demonstrating superb teamwork. If you would like to be a part of this organization, we welcome your application and look forward to reviewing it.

Please submit application and resume by November 11, 2022.

For more information and application form click here – http://www.shaes.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=public:employment

SHAES is proud to announce the promotion of Shawn Smith to the newly created position of Training Officer. Shawn has been a SHAES firefighter/paramedic since 2010, first in a paid-on-call capacity and for 12 years as a career member. He has been actively engaged in training, notably as the department's Medical Control Liaison.

“We are excited about this position and the benefits Shawn will bring to our department and the community,” according to Executive Director Brandon Hinz.

Shawn will be in charge of coordinating training for all aspects of the department, maintaining EMS and Fire records for SHAES personnel, ensuring compliance with State of Michigan regulations, facilitate continuing education for members and onboarding new career and paid-on-call personnel.

Five now deceased South Haven firefighters who served the community a combined 118 years were honored on Sept. 17 when their names were added to the Memorial Wall of the Michigan State Firemen's Association in Roscommon.

Every year on the third Saturday in September, firefighters from across the state and their families gather to remember the brave men and women of the Michigan Fire Service. The centerpiece of the site is a 12-foot bronze firefighter statue depicting a firefighter carrying a child to safety. A memorial wall allows firefighters to be remembered for their years of service.

The local firefighters being honored, their years of service and the departments they served are Edward W. Bierhalter, 22 years, South Haven Fire Department (SHFD); David L. Henry, 36 years, SHFD and South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES); Thomas E. Leva, 25 years, SHFD and SHAES; Jack C. McCloughan, 16 years, SHFD; and Patricia A. Quinn, 19 years, Covert Fire Dept. and SHAES.

“Service to our community has always been of utmost importance for our members, past anbd present,” said SHAES Executive Director Brandon Hinz. “I was privileged to know all of the members added to The Wall this year, extremely privileged to serve with some. All of those years of service represent many sleepless nights, early mornings, missed dinners, missed holidays. Honoring these members is a small token of our appreciation for their service.”

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The SHAES Dive Team conducts drills on a regular basis. On Saturday, Aug. 27, the team was invited to dive at Lake Arvesta for a training opportunity utilizing motor skills to search in a zero-visibility environment. The challenge was to find objects lost by park visitors off the giant water slide. The results were amazing. The divers recovered 142 pairs of sunglasses/prescription glasses, 11 Apple watches, two Fitbits, three wrenches, five pairs of goggles and a few other assorted items that included a wallet with an Indiana driver's license and two credit cards. All items were turned over to Lake Arvesta and will be matched to the list they have of reported lost items. Those individuals will be contacted and they're lost items will be returned to them.

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SHAES joined in raising the flag in a salute to veterans and first responders on Saturday, Aug. 20. This annual tribute is sponsored by the South Haven Steelheaders.

SEE PHOTOS

We are grateful to Bobby Walker for his presentation of an Outstanding Leadership Award to SHAES during the annual picnic at Elkenburg Park on August 12. Bobby is pictured with SHAES members Tim Forker, Amanda Quinn and Paul Quinn. Several organizations, city departments and individuals were recognized for their “excellence in serving our community”. Mayor Scott Smith in turn praised Bobby for fostering a positive environment between the community and its public servants.

The SHAES Honor Guard continued a century-long tradition of leading South Haven's Fourth of July parade.