Fire Department

Mission Statement

• Provide firefighting services for the residents of, and visitors to, Grosse Ile, Michigan.· Provide basic emergency medical services for the residents of, and visitors to, Grosse Ile, Michigan.
• Cooperate with the fire departments of the Downriver Mutual Assistance pact in the performance of their responsibilities.
• Instruct members of the Association in proper firefighting and emergency medical care procedures and study and improve the firefighting and emergency medical care capabilities of its members.
• Provide educational programs to the residents of Grosse Ile concerning the causes and prevention of fires and proper fire safety procedures.
• Collect and disseminate information concerning the causes of fire.
• Cultivate friendship and social contact among its members and promote and hold various social events.
• Solicit, receive, hold, invest and disburse donations, gifts, bequests and other funds for the purposes of the Goodfellow Association.
• Assist in the care, support and maintenance of indigent persons and families and undertake such other charitable activities consistent with this purpose.
• Otherwise promote the general welfare of the residents of Grosse Ile.
• Do all other lawful things consistent with the purpose of this Association.

Goals and Objectives

The Grosse Ile Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1943 to provide fire protection to the residents of Grosse Ile. This operation has continued through to today, however, many more demands have been placed on the volunteer.

The goal of Grosse Ile Volunteer Fire Department is to continue to provide a quality fire and emergency rescue service to the island. It is also the desire of this organization to remain volunteer until such time that demands and/or community growth requires an alternative style of fire protection.

The Fire Department will continue to provide community service groups with special standby coverage of certain events such as football games, Memorial Day Run, July 4 Fireworks, etc. These non-emergency functions will not be free of charge. The rate for non-emergency special event services will be $25.00 per hour per attendant with three persons minimum on rescue, and four minimum on a pumper other than for parades in which only one Engineer will be utilized.

2001 Accomplishments

• The past year was focused on community awareness. Following the incident on July 14th at the Ato-Fina plant in Riverview, the Fire Department initiated the purchase of an early warning alert system. This system consists of five pole-mounted sirens located around the island, a Command Center located at the Public Safety Building with computers to activate the sirens when needed and to access the cable TV station for broadcasting disaster information and instructions in the event of a serious problem. Severe weather and emergency information can be monitored on the local radio station we now have (GI radio 1700 AM). Six phone lines to assist in contacting outside emergency resources (Hazmat, Mutual Aid, etc.) have also been added along with enhanced emergency back-up generator power to keep the Public Safety Building operational during times of power outages or failures.
  
  Other updated emergency items include:
  1. DTN (Satellite weather station)
  2. Fire Chief’s vehicle command center
  3. 800 mhz radio system, now up and running
  4. Fire/Police personnel and community leaders have developed the Grosse Ile Township Emergency Response Plan.
     
     
• The Fire Department is also working with the Township schools to put a fire safety and emergency education program in place.
• In June, all firefighters were instructed in a live burn (hot training) at the Municipal Airport. This class was conducted to familiarize the department personnel with the unique hazards of an aircraft disaster.
• After the New York incident on September 11, a boot drive was held by several downriver fire departments and the monies collected from residents were sent to a special fund in New York to provide relief for fire personnel.
• Due to the generous result of that fund drive, the Department chose not to solicit for the Goodfellows this year. We did, however, provide the needy families of Grosse Ile with help during the holiday season by utilizing the “Adopt-A-Family” program.

Volunteer Hours

		Total Hours
Fire calls	16 personnel x 4 hrs. x 121 calls	7,744
EMS calls	avg. 14 personnel x 1 hr. x 308 calls	4,312
C.O. calls	avg. 2 personnel x various hrs.	40
Building Inspections		480
Fire Training	avg. 20 personnel x 88 hrs/yr.	1,760
EMS Training	avg. 20 personnel x 44 hrs/yr.	880
June Hot Training	33 personnel x 8 hrs.	264
Open House	30 personnel x 3 hrs.	90
Community Service: (Goodfellows, Parades, Islandfest, Football Games)		400
GRAND TOTAL FOR YEAR 2001		15,970

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