South Haven Area Emergency Services Authority

It’s been a busy and rewarding year at SHAES. To date, we’ve responded to 2,383 emergencies — about 200 more than 2024, and double what we handled back in 2000!

As I reflect not only on this year but also on my 28 years with SHAES, I’m amazed at how much has changed in what feels like such a short time… (short because I refuse to believe I’m becoming one of the “old-timers.”)

A quick look back at who we are and how we got here:

SHAES was formed in 1996, when Casco Township, Geneva Township, South Haven Township, and the City of South Haven agreed our communities would be best served to create one consolidated organization to provide both fire protection and EMS transport.

By the early 2000s, we became an Advanced Life Support (ALS) EMS provider — able to bring the hospital to the patient through cardiac monitoring, advanced airways, and life-saving medications. Until 2015, nearly all of our patients went to South Haven Community Hospital. But as local healthcare services have evolved, about 30% of our EMS transports now go to larger regional hospitals — meaning longer transport times and a growing need for more staffing.

Since 1888, the departments that ultimately became SHAES have proudly served this community. Over time, we’ve evolved from all-volunteer to a combination department made up of both full-time and Paid On Call (POC) members. Every SHAES member, at a minimum, is a certified firefighter in the State of Michigan. We pride ourselves on aggressive fire suppression, property preservation, and unwavering fire prevention.

● POC members: respond from home, work, or wherever they are when the call comes

● Full-time members: work 2,808 hours annually

We’re always recruiting new Paid On Call members, and we’re thrilled our Authority Board recently approved adding four new career firefighter/paramedic positions to help meet our growing call volume.

SHAES covers 97 square miles, with an average response time of 5 minutes, 45 seconds — an excellent rate by national standards. On average, our crews handle 8 incidents per day, often overlapping, relying on teamwork between full-time and POC members.

We currently have 16 operational Firefighter/Paramedics and 30 Paid On Call members. Training never stops, from firefighting and officer development to inspection, instruction, and ongoing medical education.

These are just a few highlights of how we serve you every day. If you see our trucks or ambulances around town, know that your neighbors are working hard to keep you safe.

And if you’ve ever thought about joining us — stop by any of our three stations! (But fair warning: I’ll probably try to recruit you.)

Brandon Hinz, Executive Director – bhinz@shaes.org

October is Fire Prevention Month. SHAES has been busy delivering the fire prevention message thru our annual Fire Safety Fun Night and numerous school visits.

Visit our Fire Prevention Month webpage – http://www.shaes.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=public:oct_2025

Did you know that you can obtain smoke detectors for your home for free? Call 269-637-5151 to arrange an installation visit.

South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) has been awarded a $2,000 grant from Michigan Gas Utilities (MGU) through its Rewarding Responders Grant program.

The grant is being used by SHAES to purchase eight small carbon monoxide detectors that attach to EMS response bags to alert paramedics to the presence of hazardous gases. MGU offers its Rewarding Responders Grant each year to emergency response agencies that operate in the company's service area.

“We are honored to continue our support of public safety agencies and the invaluable impact they make in our communities every day,” Nick Krzeminski, vice president of MGU, said in the announcement. “The important tools we help provide our first responders — from heavy-duty protective clothing to hazardous gas detectors — can be critical in keeping people and our communities safe.”

“We are grateful to Michigan Gas Utilities for partnering with us in making our community a safer place,” said Brandon Hinz, executive director of SHAES. “These new detectors will alert our responders to the presence of gases when they arrive on-scene, allowing them to quickly remove people and themselves from the hazardous area.”

To commemorate Patriot Day and in honor of the 343 members of FDNY who perished on September 11, 2001, the South Haven Area Emergency Services Honor Guard stood guard at the downtown South Haven Firefighters Memorial on the 24th anniversary of the tragedy. The vigil ran from 8:46 a.m. when the first plane hit the north tower to 10:28 a.m. when the tower collapsed. Simultaneously, at the department’s training building, other SHAES members climbed 2071 stairs emblematic of the 110 stories of the north tower ) in memory of the fallen firefighters. See more photos – https://www.shaes.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=public:responses

SHAES has put into service three new versatile vehicles to serve the community. Best known as “grass rigs”, they are front-line vehicles used for attacking field fires, extinguishing illegal burns and answering non-fire emergencies such as downed power lines. In the winter months, with plow attached, they provide escorts to our ambulances. The narrow fire lane roads along the lakefront are more easily accessed by these vehicles than with our larger trucks. Huge credit goes to SHAES members Cody Sedlak and Paul Pant who designed the skid which is loaded with the water tank (150 gallons), pump and hoses, coordinated construction and assembled many of the parts. A significant cost-savings for our taxpayers. Each of our stations will now have their own “grass rig”.

A long standing tradition of the Bobby Walker Basketball Tournament in South Haven is to begin the summer weekend event with the presentation of Leadership Awards to civic leaders, organizations and sponsors.

This year the ceremony had a twist with a surprise recognition of tournament founder Bobby Walker by the South Haven first responders in fire, EMS and law enforcement.

“Your unwavering support of public safety, commitment to community outreach, and exemplary leadership have strenghthened the bonds between citizens and first responders,” a proclamation read. “Though your efforts, you have inspired trust, fostered cooperation, and made South Haven a safer, stronger and more united place to live. We honor your generosity of time, talent, and spirit, and we thank you for the positive and lasting impact you have made in the lives of those we serve.”

The recognition citation was presented to Walker by Brandon Hinz, executive director of South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) and Adam DeBoer, interim chief of the South Haven Police Department.

The Bobby Walker Basketball Tournament, held the weekend of the National Blueberry Festival, was played at Elkenburg Park for the 49th year.

Thank you Rotary Club of South Haven for your generous donation of $5,000 toward our initiative to purchase new rescue tools. The new electric-powered tools will replace equipment that is nearly 30 years old. We are halfway toward our $60,000 fund raising goal. Firefighter/paramedic Paul Pant is pictured receiving the donation from Rotary President Amy Nichols.

SHAES welcomes Firefighter/Paramedic Jacob (Jake) Mulder to its career ranks. Jake comes from the Holland area where he has served as a paid-on-call member with the Park Township Fire Department for six years and with medical service organizations in Ottawa County.

The SHAES Dive Team recently acquired new Mares dive computers and clip-on compasses that were purchased thanks to the continuous generosity of Lake Arvesta Farms and Sports Complex. This purchase would have cost SHAES and the taxpayers nearly $1300. We are so grateful for the community support.

Dustin Guminski, a valued member of SHAES has retired after 25 years as a paid-on-call Firefighter/EMT-B, most of those as a Lieutenant. Dustin was also the department's Firefighter of the Year honoree in 2004-2005. We will always value Dustin as a Life Member of SHAES and a liaison between SHAES and SH City services.

We grateful to the Greater South Haven Area Community Foundation for their grant of $10,000 to start a fund raising drive to purchase new battery-powered extrication tools to replace the department's 27-year old hydraulic extrication tools. SHAES needs to raise $30,000 to purchase this set of tools. Firefighter/Paramedic Paul Pant is pictured with Foundation representatives Janice Varney and Jim Marcoux during a presentation to recipients of grants. The extrication tools are used primarily at vehicle accidents when occupants are trapped inside.

When Ron Wise retired as Executive Director (Chief) of South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) in 2020 he didn’t put away his helmet and boots.

Instead, he changed from wearing the traditional white helmet of Chief to the yellow helmet of the paid-on-call responder.

On Saturday (April 26) he was named the SHAES 2025 Firefighter of the Year during the department’s annual banquet. “Ron is one of the most dedicated, hard-working members of SHAES – always willing to help and doing it well,” said Chief Brandon Hinz. “He has a positive attitude and is encouraging to others, notably our younger members.”

A third generation firefighter, Wise joined SHAES in 1989 and served as Executive Director (Chief) from 2008-2020. He was the co-recipient of the Firefighter of the Year recognition in 1992-93.

In “retirement” he led the paid-on-call ranks in emergency responses over the past year. In recent months he has helped the department upgrade the staffing and response times from its Casco station.

“Ron loves this organization and the community we serve,” said Hinz.

The department’s Leadership Award was presented to Training Officer Shawn Smith for the second time in his career. Smith joined the department as a paid-on-call member in 2010 and within six months joined the career ranks. He also received the Leadership Award in 2018. He has served in the newly created Training Officer position since 2023. “Shawn has excelled at setting the bar high for this newly created position, reiterating the importance of proper training,” said Hinz. “He has earned this award through hard work, a vision of what this organization needed and an unwavering commitment to make it happen.”

Three new career members were formally sworn-in – Jessica Trinklein, Mason Pletz and Duke Packer. Joining the paid-on-call ranks is Jacob Florey.

Years-of-Service recognitions were presented as follows: Ron Wise, 35 years; Dustin Guminski and SHAES Board member Nancy Whaley, 25 years; Shawn Smith, Drexal Haner, Phillip Quinn, 15 years; Jon Vandenberg and Zach Kenreich, 10 years; and City Manager/SHAES Board member Kate Hosier, five years.

Welcomed to the new Firefighter Cadet program were Ayden Quinn, Lyla Quinn, Sam Rose, Scott Ritchie, Alyssa Ockerman and Nick Rainey.

Citation Bars were presented as follows: Phillip Quinn, Fire Officer I; Ron Wise, Tech Rescue; Dawn Nyhof, EMT-B; Jessica Trinklein and Kevin Wildey, Paramedic.

SHAES responded to a record number of calls in 2024 and is on pace to set a new response record this year according to Hinz. “Our ability to provide a high level of service and care would not be possible without the dedication of our members and the community’s support. We are grateful.”

Read more SHAES News – http://www.shaes.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=public:2025_review