Blue Lake Township Fire Department

06/20/2026

Russell Road is back OPEN to traffic.

Thanks to Muskegon County Road Commission, McCormick Sand, and Owasippe Scout Reservation for working quickly to make the necessary repairs to the damaged Dam.

06/19/2026

ROAD CLOSURE UPDATE – RUSSELL ROAD

UPDATE: 6/20 1700 Hrs - Roadway back OPEN to traffic.

The Muskegon County Road Commission is currently on scene and working diligently alongside other responding crews to rectify the situation on Russell Road at Cleveland Creek due to a damaged dam upstream causing stronger than usual water flow through culvert across Russell Rd.

⚠️ Russell Road remains CLOSED at this time between Silver Creek & Owasippe Rds. ⚠️

For your safety and the safety of emergency personnel and road crews, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH THE BARRICADES. The closure is in place for a reason, and unauthorized access creates unnecessary hazards. The closure was prompted by Muskegon County Road Commission as a proactive approach to the safety of motorist traveling through this area if the culvert is to fail or wash out the roadway.

Please continue to seek alternate routes and allow crews the space they need to safely complete their work.

We appreciate everyone's patience and cooperation. Additional updates will be provided as information becomes available.

06/19/2026

UPDATE: 6/20 1700 Hrs - Roadway back OPEN to traffic.

⚠️ Russell Road is CLOSED between Silver Creek Road and Owasippe Road until further notice. ⚠️

Please avoid the area and seek an alternate route. Emergency vehicles and authorized personnel only should enter the closure zone.

We appreciate everyone's patience and cooperation as crews work to address the situation safely.

06/16/2026

On Monday Blue Lake Township Fire Department was requested to assist the Michigan State Police in the search for a missing kayaker on the White River.

BLFD personnel responded with manpower and water resources to support the search efforts. Working alongside the Michigan State Police , the operation involved a coordinated response from numerous agencies, including Muskegon Central Dispatch, Oceana County Central Dispatch, Muskegon County Sheriff's Office, City of Muskegon Police Department, Michigan Department of Natural Resources , MSP Aviation Team, Holton Township Fire & Rescue , Hesperia Area Fire Department , and Grant Township Fire Department.

We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery for providing valuable resources that assisted responders during the search operation. Community partners play an important role during incidents such as these, and their willingness to help is greatly appreciated.

We are grateful for the outstanding cooperation, professionalism, and teamwork demonstrated by all agencies and partners involved throughout the search. Most importantly, we are pleased to report that the missing individual was located safely approximately 9 miles up stream at Pines Point.

A very special thank you goes out to the Blue Lake Township Fire Department Canteen. Their dedication to providing meals, snacks, beverages, and much-needed support to responders on scene ensured that crews remained fueled, hydrated, and ready to continue the mission. The behind-the-scenes work performed by our Canteen volunteers often goes unnoticed, but it is an invaluable part of emergency operations. We are incredibly thankful for their commitment, generosity, and unwavering support of first responders.

Incidents like these highlight the importance of strong partnerships, mutual aid, and community support. Thank you to everyone who played a role in bringing this incident to a successful conclusion and ensuring a safe outcome.

06/05/2026

Blue Lake Township Fire Department would like to congratulate Probationary Firefighter Jackson Wall on successfully completing and passing the Muskegon County Fire Academy last night.
Over the past several months, Jackson has dedicated countless hours to classroom instruction, hands-on training, physical challenges, and practical skill development. His commitment, determination, and willingness to learn have helped him reach this important milestone in his firefighting career.
While graduating from the Fire Academy is a tremendous accomplishment, it is only the beginning. The fire service is built on continuous learning, training, and professional development. As firefighters, we constantly strive to improve our knowledge and skills to better serve and protect our community.
Congratulations, Jackson, on a job well done. We are proud to have you as part of the Blue Lake Township Fire Department family and look forward to watching you continue to grow in the fire service.

06/05/2026

Blue Lake Township Fire Department extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and the members of the Muskegon Charter Township Fire Department following the passing of recently retired Captain Bryan Fethke.
Captain Fethke dedicated years of service to his community, answering the call to help others in their times of need. His commitment, leadership, and sacrifice will leave a lasting impact on those who had the privilege of serving alongside him and the countless lives he touched throughout his career.

During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with Bryan's family, his friends, and his entire fire service family. We recognize the profound loss being felt throughout the firefighting community and stand with our brothers and sisters at Muskegon Charter Township Fire Department as they mourn one of their own.

The Blue Lake Township Fire Department would also like to extend our support to Muskegon Charter Township Fire Department. Should they need assistance, coverage, or resources during this tragic time, we stand ready to help in any way we can.

Please keep the Fethke family and the members of Muskegon Charter Township Fire Department in your thoughts and prayers in the days and weeks ahead.
Rest easy, Captain Fethke. Your watch is complete. We will take it from here.

06/04/2026

From May 28 through May 31, your Blue Lake Township Fire Department firefighters and first responders responded to 9 incidents throughout our community. Of those calls, 6 were fire-related incidents and 3 were medical emergencies. We would like to extend our thanks to the Mutual Aid departments that assisted, Holton Township Fire & Rescue & Dalton Township Fire.

As we move into the warmer summer months, we want to once again remind all residents to be mindful when burning, including recreational campfires. Please follow all guidance provided through the Michigan DNR Burn Permit Management System. Our area is currently under a "No Open Debris Burning" restriction. Remember, individuals can be held responsible for any damages resulting from a fire that escapes their control.

https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/burnpermits/

We appreciate everyone's cooperation in helping keep our community safe.
We would also like to extend a sincere thank you to Blue Lake Hops & Gardens for providing a meal to our firefighters last Saturday. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

If you haven't had the opportunity to visit, take the scenic drive to Blue Lake and check out everything they have to offer. Supporting local businesses helps strengthen our entire community.

05/28/2026

Just after midnight, Blue Lake Township Fire Department was requested to assist Newaygo County Fire Departments at a large commercial fire at Brookside Grocery. Our department responded with a tender, additional manpower, and SCBA bottle support to assist crews operating on scene throughout the incident.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Newaygo community, the owners and employees of Brookside Grocery, and the Amish community impacted by this devastating loss. Brookside Grocery was more than just a store — it was an important part of the community and served many families throughout the area.

We would also like to recognize all responding agencies for their hard work, coordination, and dedication during this challenging incident. Please continue to keep everyone affected in your thoughts.

05/27/2026

A huge thank you to Daisy Troop 9345 for stopping by the station Tuesday afternoon for a spontaneous visit!

The troop spent time visiting with Chief Knop and Firefighter Wall while learning about fire safety, exploring the station, and taking part in a fun scavenger hunt. To top it all off, everyone got the chance to honk the “big horns” on the apparatus’ — definitely a favorite!

We always enjoy welcoming young visitors to the station and sharing a little about what we do. Thank you, Daisy Troop 9345, for spending part of your afternoon with us — we’re glad you all had such a great time!

05/15/2026

‼️ Another friendly reminder as the fire danger continues to rise! ‼️

Fire danger throughout much of Michigan is high as we head into the weekend. Burn permits for yard waste are not being issued throughout parts of the state to help keep fire chances minimal.

As always, if you have a campfire, please keep a watchful eye on it and when done: drown, stir, drown.

Much of northern Michigan has tons of debris on the forest floor from the 2025 March ice storm and that has fire dangers in those areas especially worrisome. Please do your part to keep wildfires from happening.

Additional information in the comments regarding current fire conditions.