Thornapple Township Fire Department covers 72 square miles, serving Thornapple Township, the Village of Middleville, and a portion of Irving Township from a centrally located station. The department responded to 1,848 incidents in 2023, an 18% increase from 2022.
Thornapple Township Fire/EMS Department is the only cross-trained fire department with a transporting Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance within 75 miles. The department staffs two Firefighter/Paramedics 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond to fire and EMS emergencies. A second ambulance is staffed with Paramedics and EMTs 12 hours a day, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Thornapple Township Fire Department’s staffing model consists of seven full-time paramedic firefighters, ten part-time paramedic firefighters, six part-time EMT firefighters, and about 20 paid on call firefighters. Crews had over 1,500 hours of documented training in 2023, and the department has over 257 years of total combined experience.
The department has two fire engines, a tanker, a brush rig, a UTV, and four ambulances. The newest unit in our fleet is Bravo 54, a 2024 Crestline Type III basic life support ambulance. This unit can be upgraded to advanced life support when staffing allows. Our community is fortunate to have six local paramedics who work for the department and respond to calls off-duty, allowing for greater coverage for the citizens we serve. Advanced life support is the highest level of prehospital care. Some of the advanced skills paramedics perform include cardiac monitoring and electrical therapy, administering emergency medications, establishing intravenous therapies, and providing advanced airways.
The fire department currently has an ISO class of 6. The department is working hard to reduce this class and has put initiatives in place to achieve this soon. A decrease in ISO class has a direct effect on insurance costs for commercial and residential occupancies. Other initiatives the department has been implementing include establishing an education department where we can train our staff and the community in CPR, first aid, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) skills, Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), and Emergency Pediatric Care.
Look for us at upcoming community events or stop by the station. We look forward to seeing you!
