For roughly 45 years the Charlevoix Township Fire Department has responded to emergency calls from stations on Waller Road and U.S. 31 South.
Two equipment bays at each site and a small side office at the north station were all the facilities Charlevoix Township firefighters needed through the last half of the 20th century. But today the equipment is bigger and demands larger. What was sufficient in 1974 no longer meets the mark in 2018.
“That station is so small we can’t even buy a new truck without custom ordering it. It’s not going to fit in the station,” said Dave Christiansen, assistant fire chief and township trustee. “There’s no more room, there’s nothing more we can do with these facilities.”
For the past year, the volunteer fire department has grappled with growing pains as it has increased its coverage area, which now includes the city of Charlevoix and surrounding townships. With all firefighters give to protect residents, department officials are hoping the community will give something back.