4/13/07  PFD is accepting applications for firefighters.  Interested applicants will be required to possess or obtain a minimum of MFFTC Firefighter I certification.  Classes begin late in 2007.  Interested applicants should read, understand, and complete both the application process and application.  When complete, turn in to PFD Fire Chief Terry Cluchey, or call 231-869-5987 to arrange a date and time to drop off the application.

1/2007  Unit 336, a 1976 International brush truck, was replaced with a new truck.  Unit 371 is a combination brush/rescue truck.  The 2006 Ford F-350 Super Duty Dually includes a 150 gallons per minute pump, 200 gallon tank, and compressed air foam system (CAFS).  The truck will be used for wildland firefighting and has the ability to get into areas that our pumpers cannot reach.  It is able to store considerably more equipment that the aging 336 and is versatile enough to be used on most any call we respond to.  For technical details and pictures (pictures coming soon), click here.

10/2006  Pentwater Fire Department is the sponsoring department for a $223,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security for the purchase of a $250,000 "flashover simulator trailer".  The simulator is the size of a semi trailer and uses propane to simulate entry into a burning structure.  Removable walls allow for different configurations inside to challenge the firefighter in navigating through the trailer.  Inside temperatures are as high as 500 degrees three feet above floor level.  The grant was awarded for use by all Oceana County fire departments and will also be available to departments outside of Oceana County.  With greater emphasis on the dangers of live burns in real structures, the simulator will allow for firefighting experience without the dangers of traditional live burns.

6/20/06 21:00 hrs  Medical first responder (MFR) unit goes live.  After a request by Oceana EMS to explore implementing a MFR unit in Pentwater, Pentwater Fire Department underwent MFR training and certification.  Unit 351 was outfitted with additional storage to house medical supplies.  The MFR unit will respond to all medical calls within Pentwater township as well as life threatening calls to all of Weare township and a portion of Crystal township.  The MFR unit fills the need for a first responder unit that is available in Pentwater 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

6/15/06  PFD re-numbers all apparatus to conform to countywide numbering convention.  The numbering allows other departments in the county to know what type of apparatus is responding based on the apparatus unit number.

6/7/06  PFD honors retirees Brent Cluchey (25 years), Fred Jobbins (37 years), Jerry Jobbins (17 years), Mike Kistler (20 years), D.J. Lamb (31 years), Steve Lamb (30 years), Mark Petersen (14 years), & Carl Peterson (39 years) for a combined 213 years of service.  The retirees were presented with plaques, certificates, and customized jackets in appreciation for their decades of service.

4/2006  The three large bay doors on the front of the department were replaced and now have garage door openers.  The openers will be particularly useful for rescue apparatus being able to leave the station and have the door close automatically.

4/2006  Ray Hasil was promoted to Captain, filling the vacancy left by Mike Kistler.  Caretaker Paul Smith was promoted to Lieutenant, filling the position vacated by Ray Hasil.  Secretary John Sayles was also promoted to Lieutenant, filling the vacancy left by Steve Lamb.

4/2006  PFD adds 7 new firefighters.  6 of the firefighters recently passed the Michigan Firefighter's Training Council Firefighter I&II class in addition to Hazmat Awareness, Hazmat Operations, and Driver Training.  The six firefighters are Chris & Nick Lascari, Deb & Bear Millard, Mike Moore, and Bill Lee.  Also joining PFD is Pat Ruggles.  Pat recently moved to the area and is also Firefighter I&II certified.  Pat was on Crystal Township Fire Department for the last 5 years, and will be a member for both departments.

4/2006  Captain Mike Kistler, Lieutenant Steve Lamb, Marshall D.J. Lamb, and Communications Officer Fred Jobbins retire.  With over a century of service to Pentwater Fire Department, their contributions and dedication to Pentwater will be missed.  A retirement party will be planned later this year.

3/2006  A new brush truck ordered was ordered to replace unit #336, an aging 1976 International used primarily for fighting brush and woods fires.  The replacement truck is a Ford F-350 dualy chassis and will have a 200 gallon tank with a compressed air foam system.

1/2006  Seven PFD members completed Medical First Responder (MFR) as part of the plan to start a new MFR unit.  PFD is pursuing the program in response to the need for a 24/7 medical response unit based in Pentwater.  PFD hopes to activate the unit by early Summer 2006.

1/1/06  Pentwater Fire Department's Year in Review available in pdf.  year in review 2005.pdf

10/2005  Everet Horton was appointed as Safety Officer.  He will continue his Treasurer duties as well.  Secretary Ray Hasil was appointed Lieutenant, filling the position vacated by Everet Horton.  John Sayles was appointed to fill the vacated Secretary position.

9/2005  PFD commits to taking Medical First Responder (MFR) training.  Some PFD members will attend MFR training this October through mid January.  PFD is planning on implementing an MFR unit in 2006, and MFR training is the first step.  PFD hopes to have the MFR unit up and running by the middle of summer.

6/2005  18 new sets of turnout gear arrive.  The gear was custom tailored and replaces the almost 20 year old turnout gear currently in use by PFD personnel.

5/2005  3 mobile and 1 portable installed in vehicles.  The radios are 800 MHz and allow for communication with central dispatch.

5/2005  Integrated communications installed on 5 airpacks.  These allow for clear communication by radio while donning airpacks.

5/2005  PFD received a thank you letter from Shelby-Benona Fire Department for assistance on the Deerwood fire that burned down 2 houses.  The burned almost one mile along Lake Michigan, and many houses were damaged.  Virtually all walkways leading down to Lake Michigan were destroyed.

3/2/05  Fire Chief Terry Cluchey and Secretary Ray Hasil were both re-elected to two year terms.  Paul Smith was elected as the new Caretaker.

2/2/05  Bill Brown retired after 50 years of service to Pentwater Fire Department, and many years of service to other area organizations.  For video, pictures, and details, go to the Pictures area and click on 2005, or click here.

12/31/04  Pentwater Fire Department's Year in Review available in pdf.  year in review 2004.pdf

8/3/04 PFD 5 year millage renewal passes.  Pentwater Fire Department's millage renewal passes.  Our thanks to the residents of Pentwater!

6/6-6/11/04 3 PFD Firefighters attend the National Fire Academy.  Chief Terry Cluchey, Secretary Ray Hasil, and Firefighter Paul Smith attend a weeklong class at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

5/27/04  3 PFD firefighters pass Firefighter II certification.  Firefighters Paul Smith, John Sayles, and Ray Hasil completed and passed the 75 hour Michigan Fire Fighters Training Council Firefighter II certification.  The class began in November of 2003, and completed in April of 2004.  Congratulations to all three!

5/2004  May has brought a flurry of PFD activity, including:

• Boat added to apparatus.  Last fall, a boat in need of much work was donated to PFD.  Chief Terry Cluchey and firefighter Paul Smith have worked throughout the winter on gutting and rebuilding much of the interior.  The boat has already been painted and is expected to be ready soon!
• New dry hydrant Installed.  A new dry hydrant was paid for by Riverton Fire Department and installed by Pentwater Fire Department.  It is located where the new motel is being constructed at Pere Marquette Highway and Business 31.  A dry hydrant allows fire department pumpers to suction water for transfer to tankers in remote areas where water supply is scarce.
• 5 PFD members attend fireworks seminar.  5 department members attended a one day seminar in Bay City.  The seminar focused on fireworks legal issues, and allowed interaction with representatives from MIOSHA, BATF, and Wolverine Display Co.
• PFD upgrades to 4" water service.  The new line was installed by department members with help from Pentwater DPW.  The upgrade will allow for much faster refill of department apparatus.
• PFD to seek 5 year millage renewal.  PFD will request a 5 year renewal on the current millage rate at the August 2004 elections.
• PFD driveway upgraded.  The gravel driveway leading from Park St to PFD will be resurfaced with blacktop soon.  The resurfacing will include a 16' extension along the cement apron.  A blacktop pathway from the corner of Park and Morris to the library sidewalk was also constructed and paid for by a local organization.  The new pathway will allow students to walk from school to the library without having to use the street!
• PFD station painted.  The station will soon have an all-new look; the painting will be complete by early June.

3/27/04  Pentwater Firefighter II Classmates participate in controlled burn of a house in Shelby.  The burn was primarily for Firefighter I students, however, Firefighter II students were allowed to participate.  Members from nearly every department in Oceana County participated.  Below are just a few of the pictures!

12/31/03  Pentwater Fire Department 2003 Year in Review, as presented to the Pentwater Village Council.  pfd annual review 2003.pdf

9/3/03  New portable tank added to equipment inventory  A new 3000 gallon portable tank was added to the PFD inventory with funds donated by the Pentwater Chamber of Commerce.  The tank is deployable by just one firefighter, which is in sharp contrast to the old tank that took 4-6 firefighters, and pinched a lot of fingers over the years.

8/6/03  New pagers distributed  The new pagers were much needed to replace the outdated existing pagers.  The new Motorola Minitor IV pagers operate on a high band frequency, and are able to record dispatch information when the department is toned out.  The recorded information can be played back an unlimited number of times, and will be helpful in eliminating radio traffic to dispatch for repeating of address information.

8/6/03  New arrive; old packs updated with integrated Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) alarms  Four new Scott airpacks were added to the department inventory.  All but a couple of the remaining packs were updated with the new integrated PASS devices.  The new alarms activate automatically when air is opened, and must be manually turned off once air pressure is released.

7/2/03  New Fire Marshall Appointment  Firefighter Wayne Schlee has been appointed to fill the Fire Marshall position vacated by retiree Louis Alvesteffer.  Wayne is also a member of the Hart Fire Department and has over a decade of experience with PFD.

7/2/03  Scotty's Firehouse reserved Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 24  PFD will be contacting area schools to make this valuable resource available to all who would like to participate.

6/4/03  Fire Marshall Louis Alvesteffer retires after 38 years of service  Fire Marshall Louis Alvesteffer was honored at the June Monthly Meeting and presented a plaque and Mag-Lite flashlight by Fire Chief Terry Cluchey.  Terry thanked Louis for his years of service, and Louis passed on some words of wisdom.  Many thanks to Louis Alvesteffer for his dedication over the last 38 years!

5/7/03  Date for this fall's Fireman's Dinner (sometimes called the Fireman's Brawl) at the Pentwater VFW is set for Saturday, October 25, 2003

5/7/03  PFD welcomes three new members  Ted Hebblewhite, John Sayles, and Paul Smith have completed 6 months of Firefighter I training and passed the written and practical exams.  All three were voted on to the department unanimously.