Manistee Firefighters Association Local 645

05/01/2026

Today two of our members, Joe Wozniak and Anna VanDuinen successfully graduated from their paramedic program. They have 3 short months of internship left, and they will get to test for their state license.
Both are excited, and looking forward to serving the residents and visitors of the City of Manistee!
We are deeply proud of both these members and are excited to watch their continued growth!

CJ

04/27/2026

We found these glasses on the ground at the intersection of 3rd St X Elm St.
if you recognize them or know who may be missing them, we have them safe and sound at the Fire Dept.
Thank you
CJ

04/09/2026

Wonderful class available next week.
No cost, Free to attend !!
Thank you
CJ

02/16/2026

PSA: hey folks. Your local firefighters are asking for your help. We are going around town and looking for fire hydrants that are buried/half buried and getting them dug out. If you see one by your home that we haven’t gotten to yet, could you please dig it out?? With the thaw and freeze cycle we are currently in, if the snow freezes around a hydrant at night it could prevent us from using that hydrant in an emergency. Thank you for all your continued support of us!!

02/13/2026

Congrats to our Director of Drone Operations/Firefighter/Paramedic Brandon Nelson on completing 7 years of service with us. He has been a great asset to the Dept and the community. We look forward to many more years of working alongside Brandon. Congratulations brother!

P.S sorry this is a week late Brandon. Better late than never 😉😬😂

01/28/2026

For folks who don’t have access to the News Advocate online here are the highlights!
- We are getting a new diesel exhaust system
- This system will provide a hook up to attach to the exhaust of our fire trucks to keep the air we breath cleaner. When we start our trucks the exhaust system will pull the exhaust outside and prevent it from lingering in the station.
- Cost is roughly $64,000. The FEMA Grant we got approved for will cover $60,000. That means the city covers $4,000.

Manistee Fire Department to get $64K diesel exhaust removal system
Click the link in the comments 👇️

01/27/2026

Yesterday afternoon around 130pm your City of Manistee firefighters were requested Mutual Aid into Manistee Township Fire Department area for an RV that was on fire and threatening nearby structures. Manistee Fire arrived on scene first to find a fully involved RV fire with flames touching the side of the home. Quick deployment of a hoseline and fire attack prevented the fire from spreading to the home, garage, and two vehicles parked nearby. Many thanks to Manistee Twp Fire, Stronach Township Fire Department, Eastlake Fire, Onekama Township Fire Rescue Department and Manistee County Dispatch for all the hard work during the incident. Great work by all involved

01/27/2026

Update to US-31. Thanks for the sharing of valuable information. It’s always nice when agencies can help share pertinent information to the people we serve

01/23/2026

We are proud to be on the National Park Service Historic Building Registry. Thanks to all the hard work of many people, including Retired Local 645 Firefighter and current Fire Chief of Stronach Township Fire Department, Fred LaPoint. This designation will open many new and exciting opportunities for the place we call home.

Press Release
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2026

Manistee Fire Station Added to National Register of Historic Places
Manistee, MI – The City of Manistee is proud to announce that the historic Manistee Fire Station, located at 281 1st Street, has officially been added to the National Register of Historic Places as of January 20, 2026.

Constructed in 1888, the Manistee Fire Station has served as a cornerstone of public safety and community resilience for generations. Its distinctive architecture and enduring role in protecting the citizens of Manistee highlight both its historical and cultural significance.

This designation is a tremendous honor for our City, it underscores the station’s importance not only as a functional facility but also as a symbol of Manistee’s commitment to public safety. The Manistee Fire Station represents the dedication of countless firefighters who have served our community, and now its legacy will be preserved for future generations.

I would like to extend a special thank you to Sara Herberger, Fred LaPoint, and Mark Fedder. This honor would not have been possible without their many hours of hard work and dedication to this process.

For more information, please contact:
Chief Tom Hernden
281 1st Street, Manistee, MI 49660
Email: [email protected]

01/20/2026

Jordan is a proud member of L645. What folks might not know is that Jordan also serves as a Firefighter for the United States Air Force Reserves. There he is the Assistant Chief of Training as well as an Instructor/PIO (Public Information Officer)/Photgrapher for the Dept of War’s Firefighter Rescue and Survival Course. The course is a 5 day, 50 hour, in full turnout gear course that teaches firefighters how to survive the worst possible scenarios they may find themselves in. He brings valuable teaching experience to the L645. We are proud to have him here!!

Pictured below are a couple photos taken of Jordan and taken by him during the course.

01/18/2026

Update