Park Township Fire Department - Holland

06/05/2026

⚠️ PUBLIC SAFETY ALERT – DANGEROUS LAKE MICHIGAN CONDITIONS TODAY ⚠️

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids MI has issued a Beach Hazards Statement for Ottawa, Muskegon, Oceana, and Mason counties from 8:00 AM through this evening for June 5, 2026.

🌊 High waves of 3–5 feet, strong currents, and dangerous swimming conditions are expected along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Southerly winds will increase on Friday to 15 to 25 mph.

🚫 For your safety:
• Stay out of the water.
• Do not walk or fish on piers.
• Follow all posted warnings and beach closure notices.

Strong currents can quickly pull swimmers into deeper water, and large waves can sweep people off piers without warning.

Areas of particular concern include the south sides of south-facing piers, such as Grand Haven State Park and Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon.

Please check with local authorities for the latest beach conditions and possible closures.

06/03/2026

Today, the Park Township Fire Department was honored to participate in the 2026 Lakeshore Elementary Discovery Day!

Students from Kindergarten through 5th grade enjoyed a beautiful sunny day outdoors, learning about both fire safety and water safety. They had the opportunity to tour our fire trucks, spray water from a fire hose, and cool off with some ice cream.

We love opportunities like this to connect with our community and help teach important safety lessons in a fun and interactive way.

Thank you to Lakeshore Elementary for inviting us to be part of your Discovery Day. We had a great time and look forward to seeing everyone again!

06/03/2026

⚠️ Public Notice – Safety at Sea Training Exercise ⚠️

On Saturday, June 6, the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club (MBYC) will be conducting a Safety at Sea training exercise on and around Lake Macatawa.

As part of the training, there will be intermittent demonstrations of handheld and aerial distress flares between 3:10 PM and 4:30 PM, weather permitting.

To avoid unnecessary concern, please be advised that this is a planned training event. The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Coast Guard have been notified. Park Township Fire Department personnel will also be on scene assisting with the exercise.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to promote boating safety and emergency preparedness on our local waters

05/31/2026

🚤⚓ Boater Safety Starts Here! ⚓🚤

On May 30, the Park Township Fire Department Marine Division proudly taught its first-ever Boater Safety Course—and it was a great success!

We are excited to begin offering these classes to our community as part of our commitment to promoting safe and responsible enjoyment of our waterways. Topics covered include boating safety, personal watercraft operation, water sports safety, general water safety awareness, state laws, and much more.

A big thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this first class a success. We look forward to teaching many more classes in the future and continuing to help keep our waterways safe for all.

📅 Upcoming Classes:
• June 20
• July 25

Interested in attending? Registration is available through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website.

We hope to see you in a future class as we work together to make boating and water sports safer for everyone.

05/18/2026

What started as a day of testing out different dry suit manufacturers turned into a great impromptu training session on Lake Michigan. Holland City Fire Department was out conducting boat ops training and was more than happy to team up for some victim-in-the-water drills.
We love any opportunity to work with our neighbors—these joint sessions ensure that when the real call comes, we’re a seamless team. 🤝

05/11/2026

This week, the United States Coast Guard station in Grand Haven is hosting BOSAR (Boat Operator Search and Rescue) training, bringing together multiple agencies from across West Michigan for hands-on marine emergency response training.

Participants include the Park Township Fire Department Marine Division, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan DNR, Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, and Muskegon Fire Department. The course is being instructed by members of the Coast Guard.

Today’s training focused on preparing for search and rescue operations and conducting man overboard drills on the water.

We appreciate the strong partnerships and continued commitment to keeping our waterways safe.

05/09/2026

We had a great time yesterday hosting some students from the West Ottawa Public Schools LINKS program.
Our new friends got to climb around the fire trucks, see the equipment we carry to help in emergencies, and stepped up to help us test our fire nozzles!
A huge thank you to the LINKS program for visiting us. We loved meeting all of these great kids.

05/05/2026

Last night’s training focused on the dry line, also known as the standpipe system, in the Ottawa Beach Historical District.

For those wondering what a standpipe system is, think of a high-rise building. A standpipe system runs vertically through the structure, with connections on various floors to support fire suppression efforts.

A dry line system works in a similar way—but instead of running vertically, it runs horizontally 6 feet underground.

There is a cottage area behind Ottawa Beach that relies on this system. Fire units can connect to the underground network, which distributes water throughout the area. Firefighters then access standpipe connections to assist with fire suppression.

This system is tested annually through training to ensure Park Township firefighters are ready to respond when needed.

05/05/2026

05/04/2026

EMT students from Careerline Tech Center (Ottawa ISD) visited the Park Township Marine Division Station today for an engaging and educational experience.

During their visit, students toured the station and participated in discussions on water and boating safety. Our team provided insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of EMTs, police officers, and firefighters, along with guidance on the education and training required for each career path.

Students also enjoyed hands-on learning with boater safety equipment and had the opportunity to operate a water hose from the fire truck, spraying into Lake Macatawa.

We were impressed by the thoughtful questions students asked about their future careers and appreciate their enthusiasm for learning. Thank you to Careerline Tech Center for the opportunity to connect and support the next generation of public safety professionals.