Today, Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department would like to take a moment to recognize and thank all the brave men and women who have served our country. Your courage, sacrifice, and dedication to protecting our freedoms do not go unnoticed. We are grateful for those who have served, those who continue to serve, and the families who stand beside them. From all of us at Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department, thank you for your service and sacrifice. ❤️🤍💙
A great big spooky THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Safety Boo Bash, especially our community partners and volunteers! We hope everyone had a great time. Stay safe, and have a Happy Halloween!! 🚒🎃
Also at our October board meeting, we recognized Charter Township of Garfield, Grand Traverse County, Michigan Trustee Chuck Korn for his 18 years of service on the Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services Authority (GTMESA) Fire Board! Thank you, Chuck, for your years of dedication, leadership, and commitment to our fire department and the communities we serve. We truly appreciate the time and service you’ve given to keeping our community safe!
At our October board meeting, we recognized members of our Station 8 Red Shift crew for their heroic efforts during a lifesaving rescue in August. Assistant Chief Tony Posey and Captain Steve Meek received Lifesaving Awards, while Lieutenant Michael Thomas and Firefighter Dillan Romstadt received a Unit Citation for their critical support during the operation. We are incredibly proud of their courage, teamwork, and dedication to our community. Below are the words shared by Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal Brian Belcher in recognition of their extraordinary efforts: "On August 31, 2026 at 2:49 pm, Metro Fire, Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office and MMR were dispatched to a reported vehicle which had left the roadway and crashed into a pond located near 4355 Bunker Hill Rd in Acme Twp. Deputy Roger Grotefendt was the first to arrive on scene. He entered the water and was able to smash several windows and the sunroof out of the vehicle and remove the driver who could not advise if additional people may be in the vehicle. Engine 8, with the crew of Lt Michael Thomas and Firefighter Dillan Romstadt, arrived on scene along with Assistant Chief Tony Posey and Shift Commander Capt. Steve Meek. Chief Posey and Capt. Meek entered the water with support from the Engine 8 crew and began searching through the broken windows for occupants. Chief Posey felt a small head, which appeared to be a child in a car seat. Capt. Meek was able to go underwater and enter the vehicle through a broken window to remove the seat straps, while Chief Posey removed the child through the sunroof. Capt. Meek swam the victim to shore, entered the ambulance and performed CPR enroute to the hospital. A pulse was restored at Munson Medical Center. 14-month-old Baby Weston was transferred to Devos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids and later transferred to a Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Facility to continue recovery after being underwater for approximately 11 minutes and pulseless for 50 minutes. Incidents like this take a total team effort to ensure a safe and successful mission. Every person and agency played a role in this operation. In the fire service, we never know when these low frequency high risk calls are going to happen. This is why we train, stay prepared and respond with urgency. In the words of Chief Posey, “I went to a submerged vehicle rescue class 15 years ago, never did I think that I would actually use that training until the moment I entered the water”. On behalf of the Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services Authority Board and Fire Chief Paul Mackin, it is my honor to bestow the following awards: A Unit Citation to Engine 8 crew of Lt Michael Thomas and Firefighter Dillan Romstadt for your rescue support providing equipment and manning the safety tag lines during the operation. Lifesaving Awards to Assistant Chief Tony Posey and Captain Steve Meek, despite sustaining numerous cuts and injuries during the rescue, you continued the efforts to remove the victim from the submerged vehicle and continued lifesaving efforts until handing off the patient to Emergency Dept staff. Thank you for your efforts and abilities for this successful rescue. You truly make a difference. Your teamwork has made us all proud!"
Join Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department for a fun-filled Halloween afternoon at Station 12! Bring the whole family for trick-or-treating, games, prizes, community resources, and plenty of Halloween fun—all while learning some important safety tips along the way. 🚒 Meet community heroes 🎃 Explore community resources for you and your family 🏠 Spot the safety hazards in our “haunted house” ❤️ Learn how to save a life with Hands-Only CPR & Stop the Bleed 🎯 Play games and win prizes 🚒 Take a tour of Station 12 🍬 Enjoy trick-or-treating, goodies & more PLUS! Enter for your chance to win a FREE one-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge, including waterpark passes! 🐺💦 📅 Saturday, October 31, 2026 ⏰ 12:00–2:00 p.m. 📍 Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department Station 12 2025 N. East Silver Lake Rd. Come celebrate Halloween with us and make safety part of the fun! We can't wait to see you there! 🎃 🚒 Thanks to our spook-tastic sponsors! Our Boo Bash wouldn’t be possible without you! Grand Traverse 911 Grand Traverse County Health Department Grand Traverse County Emergency Management Mobile Medical Response Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michigan State Police State Savings Bank Grand Traverse Metro Firefighters Local 5288 Great Wolf Lodge Cherryland Ghostbusters Susan Soffredine Rauser - State Farm Agent Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency Riding for Ryan Charter Township of Garfield, Grand Traverse County, Michigan Traverse Area District Library Oleson's Food Stores DTE Energy
🎃 There's more than candy waiting for you at Safety Boo Bash! 🎃 We're giving families the chance to WIN A GRAND PRIZE — a free one-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge, including waterpark passes! All you have to do is stop by our Safety Boo Bash on Halloween and participate in the event for your chance to enter. While you're here, you can: 🚒 Meet some awesome community heroes 🎃 Make a spooky craft ❤️ Learn about local resources for you and your family 🎯 Play games and win prizes 🍬 Enjoy trick-or-treating, goodies and more! 📅 Saturday, October 31, 2026 ⏰ 12–2 p.m. 📍 Station 12 — 2025 N. East Silver Lake Rd. Bring your little ghosts, goblins and superheroes and join us for an afternoon of Halloween fun + safety for the whole family! We'll see you at Safety Boo Bash! Thanks to our spook-tastic sponsors! Our Boo Bash wouldn’t be possible without you! Grand Traverse 911 The Salvation Army Traverse City Grand Traverse County Health Department Grand Traverse Metro Firefighters Local 5288 Grand Traverse County Emergency Management Mobile Medical Response Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michigan State Police State Savings Bank Great Wolf Lodge Susan Soffredine Rauser - State Farm Agent Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency Charter Township of Garfield, Grand Traverse County, Michigan Traverse Area District Library DTE Energy Riding for Ryan Cherryland Ghostbusters
