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 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. Read Annual Report

SHAES has put into service a 2017 Road Runner 4-wheel drive ambulance. It increases the department's ambulance fleet to four units. Last year SHAES responded to 1,558 medical-related calls.