Toys for Tots Donation sites in our community!

We at the Glen Lake Fire Department are proud supporters of the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots Program which helps provide toys for those who may be less fortunate than ourselves.  Locally, in Glen Arbor and Empire Townships the following locations have drop off boxes available for new, unwrapped toys: Huntington Bank, Tahgon's Garage, Anderson's Market, Boonedocks, and Cherry Republic.

For more information regarding the Toys For Tots Program, please visit: http://toysfortots.org

Residential Safety Program!

THE GLEN LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT WANTS YOU TO BE SAFE IN YOUR OWN HOME! 

The Residential Safety Program, or RSP is a voluntary solution to help homeowners prevent fires. The RSP is designed to reduce the number and severity of fires in Glen Lake Area. The GLFD and our partners are offering the following:
· Free in home fire safety assessments
· Free smoke alarm upgrades and installations
· One-on-one fire safety consultations specific to the residence
· A connection with our partners to assist with fire safety issues

To qualify for the program, homeowners must meet the following requirements:
· Reside within the Empire or Glen Arbor Area
· Be a home owner, residing within the dwelling.


Homeowners can ensure their safety by scheduling an appointment. Contact us at 231-334-3279

Change your batteries!

With this weekend being the time change, this is a great opportunity to change your smoke detector batteries.  The National Fire Prevention Association recommends changing the batteries twice a year, and what better way to remember than with the time change when we change all of the clocks?

Other things important to check when looking at your smoke detectors this weekend are:

• Are they free of dust and debris?
• Are they within 10 years of manufacturer's date?
• Do you have them in the right places?

If you have any questions about your detectors or home safety in general, please do not hesitate to contact our station at 231.334.3279 to schedule a home safety survey or smoke detector check.  These services are free of charge and can help you stay safe all year round!

Halloween Safety and Facts

The latest data from the United States Fire Administration shows that there are 10,300 fires during the there-day period around Halloween. These fires cause about 25 deaths, 125 injuries and $83 million in property loss.

Let us help each of you be safer during Halloween by sharing a few fire safety tips:

• Choose a costume without long trailing fabric. This can cause a child to trip or may touch flames in jack-o’-lanterns or other decorations.

• If you make your own costume, use materials that won’t catch on fire easily if they come in contact with heat or flame.

• Give your children flashlights or glow sticks so they can see where they are walking

• Keep decorations away from candles, light bulbs or heaters.

• Consider using flameless candles or glow sticks in your jack-o’-lantern.

• Keep exits clear of decorations.

Now Accepting Applications for Firefighter/EMT Positions

The Glen Lake Fire Department is currently accepting applications to establish a list of eligibility for position of Full-Time Firefighter/EMT.  At this time, the Department is also accepting application for immediate fill of vacant Part-Time Firefighter/EMT positions.  Applications will be accepted until the 25th of November at 5:00pm.  Qualified applicants will then be invited to participate in the Physical Agility and Written Testing scheduled for the 5th of December.

Job Description and Application Packet are available at www.glenlakefire.org/employment.html

For more information about the Department and the position please visit www.glenlakefire.org

Please direct all questions to info@glenlakefire.org or 231.334.3278

9-11-2001 A Day We Will Never Forget

On this Patriot Day we took time out from the normal routine to celebrate the lives of those lost and remember the events of September 11th, 2001.  The videos below are of this morning's memorial service.  If you were unable to attend and have the time, please watch the video recording from the ceremony.

Thank you, not only for your time in reading this post but for your constant support no matter what circumstances we are facing.

September 11th Memorial Service

On Friday, September 11, 2015 The Glen Lake Fire Department will hold its fourteenth annual memorial service, marking the anniversary of the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City. Particularly remembered will be the 343 firefighters and medics who lost their lives in the tragedy.

The memorial will begin at 8:30 AM in the Glen Lake Fire Station, located at 6401 W. State Street, Glen Arbor.

The program will feature remarks by Dusty G. Shultz, Superintendent of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, comments by the Reverend Russell Logston, Pastor of Empire United Methodist Church, and music selections by bagpiper Jack Fellows and coronetist Norm Wheeler.

The ceremony will be complimented by tours of the 9-11 Memorial Garden, designed by local artist and designer the late Ted Peterson, located outside the fire station, titled "We Remember The Fallen, The Bravery, The Sacrifice." An artifact, consisting of a rusty, twisted steel beam, recovered from the Twin Towers wreckage, is highlighted on a basalt column in the middle of a flowing infinity pool.

The public and all local firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement, NPS, and military personnel are invited to attend.

Thoughts and Updates

Our apologies for not having any updates sooner, but as with nearly all of the community we are without internet access.

As of today, the Glen Lake Fire Department is very happy to say that with assistance from firefighters from the communities of Northport, Leland, and Suttons Bay we were able to access nearly every structure affected by the storm in our community.  Additionally, we were able to make contact with a great number of residents over the past days as concerns of welfare and safety were noted.  Throughout the storm the support from other agencies and communities has allowed us to maintain a standard duty crew for emergencies as they arise as well as performing the other storm related duties. We could not have gotten through all of these tasks accomplished without the outside aid and assistance.  

Now for some additional important thoughts... First and foremost, thank you so much for the support you have shown us over the past few days.  All of the donations of food, Gatorade, and water mean a great deal to us. Perhaps even more important, we cannot express the appreciation for the assistance you have offered each other.  Supporting neighbors, friends, and even those simply visiting the area has been a tremendous factor in the clean up as it has allowed us to stay focused on addressing concerns of life safety and structural stability. We would also like to offer our gratitude to the responders, dispatchers, utility workers and and countless others who have assisted us on responses and have helped with the clean up efforts.  

Please remain strong and together as a community as you have shown you can.

Open House at Station 1!

This Saturday, July 25th we will be hosting our annual open house at Station 1 in Glen Arbor.  The Glen Arbor Station, located at 6401 State Street, serves as headquarters for the administration and training offices as well as a duty crew of 4 scheduled each day.

The open house will feature many fun activities including a fire department themed bounce house and a fire hose spray challenge for kids.  Many apparatus will be on display as well as a great deal of equipment and gear used by our firefighters!  

Please join us between 10 and 2 for this fun day of activities and education!

Water supply training with Engine 311 and Boat 371

Stop by during the open house and you might even see a special guest!

Fireworks, Parades, and Pancakes!

Hello everyone! We know its been a while since our last post, but we are back with more things to share!

First, on the note of fireworks.. Fireworks are only allowed to be set off the day before, the day of, and the day after major holidays per local ordinances.  Besides that legal note, please exercise great caution when using fireworks as the weather has been rather dry and the sparks and debris can quickly lead to grass and structure fires.

Parades and other ceremonies in the area to take note of for the Fourth of July..  There will be a flag raising ceremony at the Old Settler's Picnic Grounds on Glen Lake at 10am and then the annual Fourth of July Parade in Glen Arbor begins at Noon.

Pancakes!! This is the most important note you will read here all weekend!  The Glen Arbor Fire and Rescue Association is once again hosting its annual all you can eat pancake breakfast at the Glen Arbor Township Hall on SUNDAY JULY 5TH!  Funds generated from the event go to support firefighter training and equipment purchases that would not otherwise be possible.  Please come out and support the event if you are able, we would greatly appreciate your support!

As always, please stay safe during the holiday weekend and be mindful of cyclists, paddlers, and pedestrians!

Happy 4th of July!!

Red Flag Warnings and Burn Permit Status

With the unusually dry weather we have been experiencing, combined with the high heat and low relative humidity, conditions continue to be very conducive to grassland and wildland fires.

Prior to burning each day, regardless of any precipitation, wind conditions, etc we ask that you please check the Michigan DNR website for the current status of burn permits in the area. That link is www.michigan.gov/burnpermit If you do not have internet access, the DNR also have a hotline established, the phone number for that information is 866.922.2876.  The web link also contains other information about when a permit is required and what materials are legally allowed to be burned.

What is a Red Flag Warning?
A Red Flag Warning, or fire weather warning, means that the National Weather Service has identified the conditions in the area are right for rapid growth and development of wildland fires.  When Red Flag Warnings are issued, no burning of any kind is recommended.  Factors into the issuing of a Red Flag Warning include: air temperature, relative humidity, and wind conditions. Please visit www.weather.gov for more information and other active weather alerts.

Application Deadline Extended! Full-time, Part-Time, and Pool positions

The Glen Lake Fire Department is currently accepting applications for the positions of both Full-Time and Part-Time Firefighter/EMTs.  Applications will be accepted until April 3rd at 5:00pm.  Qualified applicants will then be invited to participate in the Physical Agility and Written Testing scheduled for April 25th.

Job Description and Application Packet are available at www.glenlakefire.org/employment.html

For more information about the Department and the position please visit www.glenlakefire.org

Ice Cave Safety

Hello all, as you may have seen in the media lately, there are once again ice caves in Leelanau County all along the Lake Michigan shoreline. While they may be beautiful, they are also dangerous as pack ice is not as safe or stable as the ice on inland lake. Please, if you do venture out on to the ice, exercise extreme caution.

The link below contains information from the Indiana Dunes area regarding ice safety. Please, if you have just a few minutes, review this information as a great deal of it applies here as well.

http://www.indianadunes.com/travel-blog/new-video-shows-danger-and-beauty-of-lake-michigan-shelf-ice-people-can-see-it-for-themselves-at-events-indiana-dunes-state-park-pavilion-rooftop/

Be smart, stay safe, and have a great weekend!

Now Accepting Applications for Part-Time Positions

The Glen Lake Fire Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Part-Time Firefighter/EMT.  Applications will be accepted until March 27th at 5:00pm.  Qualified applicants will then be invited to participate in the Physical Agility and Written Testing scheduled for April 11th.

Job Description and Application Packet are available at www.glenlakefire.org/employment.html

For more information about the Department and the position please visit www.glenlakefire.org

Weekly Training On Ice!

As we have mentioned previously in posts, there is a very large emphasis on training for all types of hazards and situations that may arise in our area.  One of the biggest hazards present in the winter beyond the slick and icy roadways is the ice and frozen bodies of water.
While ice may appear safe, and in many instances is quite thick there is no such thing as safe ice.  Spring fed lakes, inlets, and currents below the surface can lead to weakened areas in most any lake.  To help prepare our personnel be ready for ice related emergencies we conduct annual training with the United States Coast Guard (USCG).  This past week, each one of our shifts had the opportunity to train with the USCG to refresh and improve upon techniques to help individuals in trouble should they become stuck on the ice or have fallen through the ice.  Below are some pictures from the training conducted!

As always, stay safe out there and if you have any questions feel free to ask!

Above: USCG personnel reviewing techniques with GLFD members
Below: GLFD personnel performing rescue drills and scenarios

Safety on the Ice

As we are sure you have noticed, its winter, its cold, and that means there is ice forming on all bodies of water in the area! While the ice can be fun and relatively safe for fishing, skating, and other hobbies, there are some dangers everyone must remain aware of.

• Always watch for cracks forming in the ice as they may show weak spots
• Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return
• Be vigilant as ice conditions can change rapidly with wind and temperature shifts

It was just last year when Lake Michigan froze out all the way past the Manitou Islands and many beautiful ice cave structures were formed by the lake.  While these ice caves and their beauty is very intriguing to many, please keep in mind that ice can still be dangerous.  Not only for the above mentioned reasons, but on larger bodies of water the current below the ice can eat away at the ice from below.  So please, for safety's sake exercise due caution if and when Lake Michigan freezes up!

Winter Storm Warning!

New WINTER STORM ADVISORY from National Weather Service.

Weather service personnel calling this to possibly be the "strongest snow event" we've seen yet this winter.

*Worst expected from Thursday 4pm until 1am Friday morning (although lake effect snow is forecast through Saturday)

*Very strong winds - sustained 15-20mph with gusts to 30+

*6-12" of snow forecast with the bulk of that coming in the Thursday evening - Friday am time frame.

*Snow expected to reach 2" per hour at times. VERY light and dry snow that will blow and drift exceptionally easy due to the extreme cold.

*Time to frostbite from exposure to cold is less than 30 minutes due to the extreme windchill.

*PLEASE plan accordingly and try to make arrangements to not have to travel during this storm.

For more information on what to do to be more prepared to winter storms, and all hazards please visit ready.gov.

Weather updates are available using local media outlets, as well as noaa.gov and weather.gov

Stay warm and Safe Everyone!