09/03/2026
Ada Township Fire Department
August 2026 End of Month Report
August was another active month for the Ada Township Fire Department, with personnel responding to a wide variety of emergency calls while continuing regular training and participating in several community events.
Emergency Response Activity
The department’s August activity summary lists 63 incidents, bringing the year to date total to 517 calls for service. Medical emergencies continued to make up the largest portion of the department’s workload, with 25 medical calls during August and 218 year to date.
The department also responded to:
11 fire alarms
8 vehicle accidents
5 good intent, odor, or gas investigations
4 other calls involving wires or similar hazards
3 hazardous condition or carbon monoxide calls
3 automatic aid incidents
2 service or assistance calls
1 grass or illegal burn
1 vehicle fire
The annual comparison shows 517 calls year to date in 2026, compared with 492 at the same point in 2025 and 401 in 2016. This places overall call volume ahead of both last year and historical levels.
The report contains a small discrepancy in the August total. The incident type table lists 63 calls, while the annual comparison table lists 64 calls for August 2026.
Mutual aid also remained an important part of department operations. Ada Township personnel assisted neighboring departments during the month and received assistance on several incidents as needed.
Training
Fire training for August focused on pump operations at Ada Christian School. Firefighters worked in teams of three and rotated through the responsibilities involved with establishing a water supply, operating the apparatus pump, connecting to a hydrant, and supplying water to hose crews. Each firefighter had the opportunity to work through the different positions on three of the department’s primary apparatus.
Medical continuing education focused on soft tissue trauma injuries. Members reviewed emergency care for burns, amputations, and other traumatic injuries, including the use of dressings and proper tourniquet application to control serious bleeding.
Members also completed the department’s annual emergency vehicle driving course. This year’s training placed additional emphasis on safe backing procedures. When possible, a firefighter is used as a spotter during backing operations to help ensure the path behind the apparatus is clear. This provides an additional safety measure beyond the rearview cameras installed on many department vehicles.
Community Involvement
The department participated in National Night Out at the Mary Free Bed YMCA. Firefighters joined deputies, DNR personnel, SWAT members, and other public safety agencies as hundreds of community members attended the event.
Firefighters also helped Forest Hills Central Band Camp students cool down at the end of a busy week by providing a spray of water from a fire apparatus.
Department members supported the final Beers at the Bridge event of the year by assisting with traffic control and pedestrian safety near Thornapple River Drive and River Street. Two medical units were also positioned at the event in case emergency assistance was needed.
Community Highlight
One of the more memorable moments of the month came from a young community member named Elouise, who decided the fire station needed a Dalmatian for the front porch. She set out to raise the money needed to purchase one and reached her goal in a single day.
Monthly Summary
August reflected the wide range of responsibilities handled by the Ada Township Fire Department. In addition to responding to medical emergencies, vehicle crashes, alarms, hazardous conditions, fires, and public assistance calls, members continued to dedicate time to fire suppression training, medical education, apparatus driving proficiency, mutual aid, and community involvement.
With 517 calls recorded year to date, the department continues to experience a steady operational workload while maintaining its focus on training, safety, preparedness, and service to the community.
