South Haven Area Emergency Services Authority

South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) is broadening its ability to respond to water rescue incidents by providing its paid-on-call members with water rescue equipment that stays with the responders all-of-the time.

Thanks to a grant from the Albemarle Corporation of South Haven, nineteen SHAES responders now have a fitted PFD - personalized flotation device (life jacket), helmet and throw-bag containing 50 feet of rope.

SHAES equipment (ambulances, rescue truck, engines) also contain this equipment, but frequently the paid-on-call members who respond from their home or workplace are the first to arrive on an emergency scene.

“Minutes, if not seconds, count in this type of emergency situation,” said Chief Brandon Hinz. “We are grateful for the continuing support of Albemarle as we strive to protect our community to the best of our ability.”

Hinz also thanked former chief Ron Wise who pursued funding for the acquisition.

In recent weeks SHAES staff has been conducting its annual water rescue drills on Lake Michigan and Lake Arvesta. A recent drill included members of the South Haven Police Department whose officers also have PFDs in their patrol cars.

See WOOD-TV coverage – https://www.woodtv.com/news/southwest-michigan/south-haven-crews-get-life-saving-tools-for-when-seconds-count/

The South Haven Police Department and SHAES reminds all citizens of the Michigan law as it relates to fireworks during the upcoming July 4th holiday.

The law allows citizens to use “consumer fireworks”. Examples of these are firecrackers, bottle rockets, and roman candles. We ask all citizens using these fireworks to use extreme caution due to high risks of injuries and potential for fires.

In accordance with the City of South Haven ordinance, consumer fireworks are allowed only between 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. on June 29, June 30, July 1, July 2, July 3 and July 4.

It is illegal for a person to discharge fireworks on public, school, church or private property without the permission of the owner. This includes all public parks and beaches of South Haven. The fines are a maximum penalty of $1,000.

Citizens are asked to be considerate of others while celebrating the holiday. It is our hope that all citizens will enjoy a safe and happy July 4th.

This is a request that we typically make in the dead of winter when the snow is piled high around the fire hydrants in the SHAES area. Please help us now if there is foliage concealing from the street a hydrant where you live. Time is of the essence when we arrive on a fire scene so being able to locate the fire hydrant quickly is of great help. Thank You.

South Haven Area Emergency Services is pleased to introduce eight new citizen (part-paid) firefighters. A SHAES Fire Academy Graduation ceremony was held on June 15, culminating a challenging eight-month-long process toward becoming state-certified firefighters. Even the COVID pandemic wasn't about to discourage this determined group. In addition to the SHAES group, there were firefighter candidates from Bangor, Lawrence and Paw Paw in the class. Pictured is the SHAES group. From left to right with retired chief Ron Wise and chief Brandon Hinz are Phillip Poole, Justin Denbow, Kevin Wildey, Nicholas Christie, Amanda Quinn, Aaron Sawyer, Zachary Hanner and Jacob Clemons.

A changing of the guard of sorts occurred on June 1st when Brandon Hinz began his duties as Executive Director/Chief of South Haven Area Emergency Services. He is pictured with retiring Chief Ron Wise. Brandon has served as a SHAES Firefighter/Paramedic since 1999. Ron began his service with SHAES in 1989 and has served as chief since 2008.

See highlights of Ron Wise's SHAES career – http://www.shaes.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=public:ron_wise

SHAES is pleased to welcome Firefighter/Paramedic Tim Forker who has joined the fulltime staff. Tim comes to SHAES from the Covert Township Fire Department. He has also served on the North Berrien Fire Rescue Department and Bangor Community Fire Departments. He fills a vacancy created by the appointment of Brandon Hinz as SHAES Chief effective June 1.

SHAES staff is currently flushing the water system and fire hydrants in the City of South Haven and Casco and South Haven Townships. This process will continue until the all hydrants have been inspected and flushed.

This is necessary to clean particulates and sediment from the system. If you have discolored water at your residence, run the water until it clears and also run your washing machine through one cycle to clear water from the lines and the machine.

South Haven Area Emergency Services has started its program of flying safety flags at city beaches for the summer months.

Lake Michigan conditions as determined by the National Weather Service are monitored by SHAES personnel.

Beach warning flags are placed at the city's seven public beaches every day between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. The flags are changed throughout the day if lake conditions change. The flags are either green, yellow or red based on the conditions.

A numbering system for the nearby beach flag poles and pier safety boxes has been developed to assist during a time of emergency as a point of reference.

The status of the flags is also posted on the internet – http://www.south-haven.com/parks_and_recreation/beach_flag_information.php

Link to SHAES Beach Safety website – http://www.shaes.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=public:beach_safety

Our staff has been receiving snacks and gift cards from community members to local restaurants for take out meals as a way to say “thank you” and to help support our local businesses. We in turn have been participating in events celebrating members of our community.

Capt. Ron Ridley (left) is displaying a face shield that was designed and built by South Haven's Do-it corporation. The face shields provide full face protection when staff is helping COVID-19 patients. Do-it is shipping these shields all across the United States to help fill a shortage of personal protective equipment. The company made sure South Haven first responders (police, fire and EMS) were the first to get some and donated two boxes of 100 face shields to SHAES and to SHPD. Thank you to Do-It corporation for helping us.