On average, over 2 million people visit the Saugatuck area each year. A portion of those visitors find their way to the beach via trails through the Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Some of those visitors can’t find their way out.…
Firefighters from around the region participated in an ice rescue class at the Graafschap Fire Department. GFD members and their colleagues spent 4 hours last night in the classroom learning the details and statistics of ice and cold water rescue.…
There are 183 occupancies in the Graafschap Fire Department coverage area that are considered commercial or public assembly. It would be impossible for every firefighter or officer to know the floor-plan, occupancy, special hazards, and other details about each location.…
Many years ago I attended a seminar by Gordon Graham, a retired law enforcement officer that has branched out to public speaking mainly about risk management. His high-risk, low frequency message stuck with me all these years. There have been…
This week, Graafschap Fire Department hosted an informational demonstration of a new fire reporting system. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has developed “NERIS” to replace “NFIRS” as the national reporting program for all incidents. For us, it involves a…
If you were outside last night around 6:15, you may have seen a medical helicopter circle and then land behind the firehouse. There was no emergency, but the atmosphere was mission-serious until the rotors stopped turning and the flight crew…
It was quite swampy at the Live Fire Training Facility Monday night as your Graafschap Firefighters refined their skills during multiple fire attacks. Crews rotated two at a time between attack, backup, and rehab. The LFTF is owned in partnership…
On Monday night, crews from The Graafschap Fire Department worked with the ladder truck to reinforce their skills on working at heights above what the ground ladders will reach. Members were taken through the set-up procedure and shown how they…
Are you tired of the age-old question, “What’s for dinner”? It’s no different for a training officer in the fire service. We can’t all travel to cool, far away sites due to the response obligation to our residents. It’s too…
On Saturday, two probationary firefighters completed an agility test to determine their fitness and motor skill levels. This test is administered to any new firefighters who did not receive their initial training at a local fire academy sponsored by GFD.…