South Haven Area Emergency Services Authority

The acquisition of more than a million dollars worth of equipment highlighted calendar year 2017, according to the Annual Report for South Haven Area Emergency Services. SHAES serves the city of South Haven and the townships of Casco, Geneva and South Haven from three stations.

“Our department continues to be blessed by a supportive community support that allows us to provide a very high level of service,” said Chief Ronald Wise.

During the year the department put into service a new Spencer 75-foot ladder truck, 73 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) in partnership with the Bangor Community Fire Department and received delivery of a Road Rescue 4-wheel drive ambulance. It also partnered with Allegan County in the acquisition of new 800mhz radios, purchased a drone for search and rescue operations, replaced an air compressor and cascade bottles for re-filling the new SCBAs and acquired new sophisticated EMS training equipment.

For the fifth consecutive year the department responded to more than 2,000 calls. The 2,169 responses were the fourth highest in department history. The record was 2,276 in 2016.

There were 611 fire alarm responses and 1,558 medical calls in 2017. There were 997 responses in the city of South Haven, followed by 447 in South Haven township, 414 in Geneva township and 251 in Casco township. SHAES provided mutual aid to other departments on 60 occasions and received assistance 25 times.

Property losses from fire totaled $316,500 compared to $187,745 in 2016. Fire loss in the city of South Haven was $166,000, followed by South Haven and Casco townships at $65,000 each and $20,500 in Geneva township.

There were no civilian fire-related injuries or injuries in 2017. There was one incident in which a firefighter was injured in a training exercise.

The department is comprised of 15 fulltime staff and 37 paid-on-call firefighters. During 2017 the department added a fulltime assistant fire inspector to facilitate an expanded community-wide pre-planning and inspection program.

The department continued its active public education programs with safety presentations to nearly 1,900 people at schools, senior living facilities, businesses and to civic groups. More than 500 children and adults attended the annual Fire Safety Fun Night. SHAES also partnered with the Historical Association of South Haven (SHAES) in designing and installing a state-of-the-art fire detection system at the former Hartman School.

A fire detection system at South Haven’s historic Hartman School, home of the Historical Association of South Haven (HASH), is now operational. The 111-year-old building, a designated Michigan Historical Site, has a state-of-the-art detection system than will alert SHAES to emergencies. SHAES staff worked with HASH in the development of the system. The installation was made possible through the financial support for the project from the Rotary Club of South Haven, Women Who Care of South Haven and South Haven Community Foundation.

For more than three decades the South Haven community has been served by the Pierce Arrow Telesquirt (2241). With a 50-foot ladder, it was acquired in 1986. In recent weeks SHAES has acquired a 2017 truck with a 75-foot ladder custom-built by Spencer Manufacturing of South Haven We are pleased that the Pierce truck will continue in service as it has been acquired by the Ganges Township Fire Department. SHAES Chief Ron Wise is pictured transferring the truck to Ganges representative Matt Zawilla.

School kids throughout South Haven received a fire safety message from SHAES first responders during October in conjunction with national Fire Prevention Week. SHAES staff gave hands-on lessons to sixth graders, visited dozens of elementary school classrooms and hosted their annual Fire Safety Fun Night for kids and their parents/grandparents. See Schools Fire Safety Photo Gallery

South Haven Area Emergency Services is proud to announce the delivery of our 2017 Spartan 75-foot ladder truck manufactured by Spencer Manufacturing of South Haven Michigan. The new ladder truck replaces our current 50-foot ladder truck that is 31 years old. The truck is powered by a 500-horse power Cummins engine with Allison 4,000 EVS transmission with dual power take off’s. Twelve-hundred-gallon poly water tank and 20 gallon foam cell allows for Class “A” foam to be applied on most fires to help with extinguishment. PTO driven 8KW generator will allow firefighters to run portable lighting, power fans and tools all at the same time if needed. The truck is outfitted with 1,000 feet of large diameter fire hose, over 800 feet of hand lines, Jaws of Life power tools for extrication, blitz attack nozzle for quick knock down of large fire mounted on the front bumper. The Chassis is outfitted with auto lube system to help keep all moving parts on the chassis lubricated. Inside storage for ground ladder and suction hose will help keep the equipment out of the weather. The cost for the ladder truck and loose equipment was budgeted out of SHAES capital replacement fund $846,400 and took eighteen months to complete. Ladder One replaces the 1986 Pierce Telesquirt Ladder which will remain in service through the Ganges Township fire department.. See Special Photo Gallery Read MLive article / Read WSJM Report.