Graafschap Fire Department

Located at 4534 60th Street, the Graafschap Fire Department serves Laketown and Fillmore Townships. 

For emergencies, call 9-1-1.

Graafschap Fire Department phone number: 616.396.4060

Our Fire Chief is Cal Haverdink.  To contact him, call the township office, 616.335.3050, or email graafschapfire@hotmail.com

Smoke detectors save lives!  No home should be without them.  Please contact the fire department if you are (or know of someone who is) in need of smoke detectors.  We will be happy to assist you.

Burn Permits

Burn permits are required for any open fires in Laketown Township. The area west of 66th Street is not allowed to have open fires unless permission is granted by the Fire Chief or his/her designee. Copies of the Restated Burn Ordinance #150 can be found under the Ordinance link on the home page. Permits can be obtained by calling the Township Office (616) 335-3050 or the Fire Station (616) 396-4060 during regular business hours. During non-business hours please contact one of the following Officers:

• Chief Cal Haverdink — (616) 836.5779
• Assistant Chief Jeff Bosma — (616) 836.7331
• Captain Doug DenBleyker — (616) 218.3227

About Graafschap Fire Dept.

The Graafschap Fire Department is always ready to assist in a fire or safety emergency.  But another important part of our job as fire-fighters is awareness of fire safety and fire prevention.  Extinguishing fires is a necessary part of our job -- but preventing fire injuries, deaths, and property loss in the first place is equally important to us.  We serve you -- the residents of Laketown and Fillmore and the surrounding area -- and we want to make 2009 our safest year ever.  Coming soon -- our Fire Safety Tips Online.  Check back soon for information about exit drills, wildland fires, fireworks safety, holiday safety, fire safety for seniors, chimney and woodstove safety, carbon monoxide safety in the home, fire extinguisher information, home fire prevention, smoke detector information, and our kids' fire safety.

The fire board for Laketown and Fillmore townships is a joint fire board with two members from each participating governmental unit.

Two members from Laketown:  Gary Dewey and Bill Sikkel

Two members from Fillmore:  Bob Yonkers and Mark Hop

The fire chief, Cal Haverdink and Al Schrotenboer serve as non-voting members.

The fire board is required to submit an annual budget for review, modification, and approval by the township board.

The Fire Board meets quarterly.