Tribal Fire Department History
1979- Tribal Fire Dept. was established. The dept. consisted of approx 10 volunteer personnel including the fire chief.
Tribes first fire engine was a 1979 Ford front mount pumper with a 750gpm (gallons per minute) pump. Fire dept was located on the corner of Broadway & Leaton Rds at the Tribal Ops building.
The dept averages about 10 runs a year at the time and covers only 2 square miles.
Late 80’s- Tribe purchases a water tanker consisting of a 2,000 gallon tank.
Mutual Aide agreements are signed with other fire departments in the county.
1993- Tribe receives new fire engine, a 1992 Spartan Quality with a 1,250 gpm pump.
1994- New Public Safety building opens across the street where the Tribal Fire, Tribal Police and Tribal Court are housed.
The fire department now houses 3 pieces of equipment.
1995 – The reservation celebrates the opening of its new gas station.
1996- The new Soaring Eagle Casino in now in operation, the reservation receives thousands of visitors a day.
1997- May- Due to the rapid growth of the reservation and the Soaring Eagle Casino, a Full time fire chief is hired. Fred Cantu Jr is hired to organize the growing Fire Dept.
1997-June- First full time crew of 3 is hired and reports to duty.
1997-August- All full time personnel are hired. Full time career staff now consists of 10 personnel including the fire chief. More volunteer staff is hired and consists of 20 personnel making the staff a total of 30 for the dept.
1997- September- Tribal Fire dept starts responding to medical emergency calls. The Fire dept buys its first AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) a Physio Control Lifepak 510.
All staff is required to be cross trained to a state certified Medical First Responder level.
The Fire dept receives its new medium duty rescue unit, a 1996 International/Michigan First Response.
The Fire dept purchases its first set of the Jaws of Life.
1998 June – The new 8 story, 520 room Soaring Eagle Hotel & Conference center opens which quickly becomes a favorite.
1998 Fall- Tribal fire dept receives new fire engine, an HME/Luverne with a 1,750gpm pump.
Tribe now houses 7 pieces of equipment including an 85 foot ariel ladder.
The Soaring Eagle Casino now has its 3,500 seat entertainment hall hosting monthly concerts.
1999- The department continues to grow. The dept. establishes the tech rescue team, haz-mat team, and the fire investigation team.
The dept now has a state certified fire inspector.
The Fire dept receives the new AED’s, Lifepak 500’s. The Fire dept now owns 5 AEDs through grants which are placed on the apparatus.
The Tribal fire dept now handles approximately 1,500+ runs a year.
Mutual Aide compacts are still in place, not only with Isabella county but as well as Clare, Midland, and Gratiot counties.
1999/2000 December/January – All departments for the Tribe including the Fire dept prepare for the Y2K by bringing in all available staff. No major problems occur as the New Year comes in.
2000 Spring- Training for personnel is expanded, personnel are sent to California, Indiana, Maryland as well as through out Michigan for national training.
Staff is urged to attend Fire Officer training.
2001- The reservation continues to grow, now having its own water treatment and waste water treatment plants. The reservation also has its own schools including elementary and middle schools along with the Tribal College.
The Soaring Eagle Casino, along with the Soaring Eagle Slot Palace and Soaring Eagle Hotel now see approximately 15,000+ patrons per day.
The Soaring Eagle Casinos 3,500 seat entertainment hall now hosts weekly concerts.
2 additional personnel are hired to the career staff making the roster to 12 career, 20 part-paid (volunteer), and 1 civilian.
2001 to Present – The Fire dept attends numerous public relations events and continues to teach fire prevention to the schools as well as to the community.
2001 - The fire dept purchases the fire extinguisher training trailer. The trailer consists of training scenarios with the use of propane to train tribal employees on how to use fire extinguishers in an emergency.
2004 Fall – Tribal Fire Chief Cantu takes a leave of absence as he is elected into the Tribal Council. FF Patrick Nahgahgwon is hired as the Interim Fire Chief.
2005 Summer – The Fire dept receives its new water tanker (tender), a 2005 Peterbilt chassis with a refurbished 2,100 gallon tank. Finishing price; $68,000.
The reservation experiences rapid growth in housing with the addition of 2 subdivisions, adding about 200 more single family homes.
2006 Spring – The Soaring Eagle Casino introduces its summer concert series with its 11,000+seat outdoor concert arena. The fire dept brings in neighboring fire dept’s to help with the extra crowds attending the events. The fire dept worked closely with Tribal police and other numerous departments and established a unified command for the concerts. The concerts last through mid September.
Fall – The fire depts management team, made up of the 3 fire sergeants and the fire chief, starts to spec out a new fire truck and accepts bids from manufactures.
Tribal Council approves the purchase of a new engine for the fire dept. The purchase price; $350,000. Expected delivery is sometime in spring of 2007.
2007 Spring – The fire depts new truck is pushed back to the fall for delivery due to the high volume of production by the manufacture.
September – The Fire dept finally receives its new piece of apparatus. A 2006 Spartan/Rosenbaurer pumper with a 1,750gpm pump.
The tribe sells its 1992 Spartan/Quality pumper to a rural fire department in Isabella County, Fremont Twp, for the price of $25,000.
