Fire chief explains funding, apparatus

Graafschap Fire Department Chief Doug DenBleyker presented an expanded report to the Laketown Township Board of Trustees on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, on how the department is funded. He also explained the different apparatus and their uses.

For a review of the presentation, visit here.

December numbers

Here is the Graafschap Fire Department run report for December 2024 as presented to the Laketown Township Board on January 15, 2025:

Total calls for November: 93

Calls in Fillmore Township

• 4 fire calls
• 22 medical/rescue calls

Calls in Laketown Township

• 19 fire calls
• 36 medical/rescue calls

Assists to other departments or agencies

• 8 fire calls – 2 to Saugatuck, 4 to Holland, 2 to Allegan County Sheriff’s Department
• 4 medical/rescue calls – 1 to Allegan County Sheriff’s Department, 3 to Holland

Assists from other departments

• 1 total

About the department

Graafschap Fire Department responds to fire, medical and other emergency situations in all of Laketown Township and part of Fillmore Township, and assists other agencies as needed.

The department also takes a proactive approach to prevention, offering free home safety inspections, free blood pressure checks on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the firehouse, 4534 60th St., and blood drives as part of its Community Risk Reduction Program.

For more information, visit the fire department here.