City of Wayland Fire Department

06/09/2026

See you this Saturday!!

05/29/2026

The Wayland Fire Department is looking for help with an active shooter training that will be held on July 18th from 9AM-3PM. We will be partnering with multiple local agencies and are looking for participants that would be willing to play staff/student.
Must be at least 18 years old. If interested or have questions, please contact Lt. Josh Shepardson at [email protected].

05/28/2026

We have replenished our supply of smoke alarms from MI Prevention and need your help getting these FREE alarms out to the community. These free smoke and combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms are a great opportunity to upgrade existing alarms that are nearing the end of their service life or are no longer working. We can also obtain bed shaker and strobe alarms to accommodate those with disabilities.

These alarms are available to residents in the City of Wayland and Wayland Township. To schedule installation for the free alarms, please contact Firefighter Ryan Penny at 269-509-6185 or [email protected].

04/28/2026

Last weekend, the Wayland Fire Department had the privilege to help train fire academy students from the Lansing School District who spent time at the Ebersole Center in Wayland Township. These students are currently part of a Michigan Firefighter I & II Academy while in school and will graduate as certified firefighters!

Training evolutions included advancing hose lines, search and rescue, and firefighter survival at a nearby house donated by a local resident. The students ended the night with climbing our 95' ladder truck and were very proud of themselves for this big accomplishment! This training also helps our firefighters keep skills sharp with rigging belay lines and harnesses to ensure the ladder climb is done safely.

We value the friendships made last weekend and wish these students continued success with this rewarding career! We also look forward to welcoming the instructors and new students next year at the Ebersole Center.

03/09/2026

This round of false spring provides a great opportunity to remind everyone of the local burn permit procedure. There is no open burning in the City of Wayland where only cooking or campfires in an enclosed fire ring are permitted. If burning in Wayland Township, a burn permit is required for open burning of leaves, brush, limbs, stumps, grass and/or other natural materials. A water supply must be present, the fire must be monitored, and the smoke must not extend onto another property or across a roadway.
Burn permits are not required for cooking or campfires. Open burning of construction materials, plastics, household waste, and other non-natural products is never permitted.

Please call or text 616-299-1306 for burn permits within the Wayland Fire Department service area. Burn permits are free and ensure open burning occurs under safe conditions.They also help prevent an unnecessary and costly fire response.

You can check statewide fire conditions at glff.mesowest.org to plan for a safe time to burn.

02/10/2026

This past weekend, the Wayland Fire Department hosted the Ice Rescue Train-the-Trainer course by Dive Rescue International. This training brought together firefighters and rescue personnel from around the state and included out-of-state guests from the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Cordova, Alaska Fire Department. The course focused on advanced ice rescue techniques, safety considerations, and instructional methods, equipping participants to return to their departments prepared to train others.
We are grateful to Firefighters Joe Dressler and Deven Mannix for dedicating themselves to this course, and also Lt. Josh Shepardson for his coordination in bringing this nationally accredited program to Wayland. As always, the Gun Lake Tribe was a tremendous partner in sharing their space at the Luella Collins Community Center and allowing use of Boot Lake for this training.

01/28/2026

Last night around midnight, residents in Wayland may have noticed a strong gas odor in the city and surrounding areas. The Wayland Fire Department often experiences an increase these gas odor reports caused by temperature inversions on clear, cold nights with calm winds. Gas meter regulators occasionally release small amounts of gas to prevent excess pressure, which is a normal process and goes into the atmosphere without ever being noticed. During temperature inversions, gas and other odors stay trapped near ground level and become very noticeable, particularly in neighborhoods and around the oil wells in our area. While the fire department will investigate all outdoor gas odor reports, these situations are typically not emergencies and will resolve within hours as weather conditions change.
Gas odors detected inside a building are considered an emergency. If you smell gas inside, evacuate immediately and call 911. The Wayland Fire Department will respond and coordinate with Michigan Gas Utilities to address the situation.

01/22/2026

01/20/2026

Despite single-digit temperatures and windchills below zero, firefighters from Wayland and the Gun Lake Tribe conducted ice rescue training on Monday night. These exercises simulated rescuing a victim who had fallen through the ice, requiring coordinated efforts from rescuers both in the water and on shore. With dozens of small lakes and other bodies of water in our area, it is essential for firefighters to be certified in surface ice rescue operations. We would also like to extend our appreciation to the Ebersole Environmental Education Center for their hospitality and use of their lake for this training.
While no ice is ever completely safe, the DNR offers guidelines for those venturing out. Ice should be at least 4 inches thick for walking or fishing, 5 inches for ATVs or snowmobiles, and 8–12 inches for cars. Always check thickness with a spud, avoid slushy or discolored ice, and carry safety gear such as ice picks and life jackets. Use extreme caution near moving water, inlets, and aeration devices.

12/27/2025