Graafschap Fire Department Captain Tom Dykstra and Don Dickinson, volunteer from Third Coast Community Church, 6069 Blue Star Highway in Laketown Township, knock on a door at the Shangrai La Mobile Home Community, 6180 Blue Star Highway, in Laketown Township, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. The fire department was offering to install smoke/carbon monoxide detectors free of charge to residents.
Graafschap Fire Department members and volunteers from Third Coast Community Church went door-to-door at two mobile home communities on Saturday, Sept. 23, to install free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
“A big part of Community Risk Reduction is home safety. Many of the homes in the manufactured housing communities lack proper detectors,” said Dave Grumney, Captain, Training & Health/Safety for the Graafschap Fire Department.
Graafschap Fire Department Firefighter James Boullosa and Aaron Brown of Third Coast Community Church, 6069 Blue Star Highway in Laketown Township, contact residents at the Shangrai La Mobile Home Community, 6180 Blue Star Highway, in Laketown Township, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. The fire department was offering to install smoke/carbon monoxide detectors free of charge.
They installed 135 smoke detectors and 27 carbon monoxide detectors at the Shangrai La Mobile Home Community, 6180 Blue Star Highway, in Laketown Township, and the Country Acres Mobile Home Park, A-5904 142nd Ave., in Fillmore Township. Graafschap Fire Department covers all of Laketown Township and part of Fillmore Township.
If residents weren’t home, a note was left at the door.
“I have five messages from residents that weren’t home, but saw the flier we left,” Grumney said on Tuesday. He’s scheduling those installations now.
If you need a detector, call the fire department from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at (616) 396-4060.
“We will schedule a time to come out, evaluate their residence for proper placement, and make the installations,” Grumney said.
Graafschap Fire Department Chief Doug DenBleyker knocks on a door at the Shangrai La Mobile Home Community, 6180 Blue Star Highway, in Laketown Township, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, with volunteer Barb DenBleyker. The fire department was offering to install smoke/carbon monoxide detectors free of charge to residents.
The department offers free home safety inspections, free blood pressure checks on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the firehouse, 4534 60th St., short- and long-term rental inspections, and quarterly blood drives.
The detectors came from the Michigan State Fire Marshall’s office as part of a grant. In August, a crew from Escape Ministries prepared the units, affixing adhesive strips to the devices so no drilling was necessary for installation.
“We are happy to be working with our business and civic partners in the community. Third Coast Community Church was a great help on this campaign,” Grumney said.
Graafschap Fire Department Chief Doug BenBleyker, left, talks with Firefighter James Boullosa, Aaron Brown of Third Coast Community Church, 6069 Blue Star Highway in Laketown Township, and other volunteers at the Shangrai La Mobile Home Community, 6180 Blue Star Highway, in Laketown Township, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. The fire department was offering to install smoke/carbon monoxide detectors free of charge.Graafschap Fire Department Firefighter Harry Minniear and volunteer John Forsythe of Third Coast Community Church, 6069 Blue Star Highway in Laketown Township, go over details at the Shangrai La Mobile Home Community, 6180 Blue Star Highway, in Laketown Township, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. The fire department was offering to install smoke/carbon monoxide detectors free of charge.Dave Grumney, Graafschap Fire Department Captain of Training & Health/Safety, talks to firefighters and volunteers on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Graafschap Fire Department, 4534 60th St., before heading out to install free smoke/carbon monoxide detectors at the Shangrai La Mobile Home Community, 6180 Blue Star Highway, in Laketown Township.Volunteers from Third Coast Community Church, 6069 Blue Star Highway in Laketown Township, and Graafschap Fire Department members gather equipment at the fire station, 4534 60th St., on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, before heading to Shangrai La Mobile Home Community, 6180 Blue Star Highway, in Laketown Township. The fire department was offering to install smoke/carbon monoxide detectors free of charge.
