Applications may be picked up at City Hall and the Otsego Fire Department during normal business hours or may be downloaded from the city’s website. Applications will also be available the day of on site.
2021 Otsego Fire Department Statistics
City Fire Department
Dedicated to protecting and serving with professionalism, pride, and performance excellence.
Paid-On-Call Firefighter Application
CALLS FOR SERVICE
The Otsego Fire Department serves the City of Otsego and Otsego Township, as well as other neighboring communities by mutual aid agreement. In 2019, the department responded to a total of 922 calls for service, which is down slightly from 956 in 2018, making it consistently the highest call volume fire department in Allegan County. The Otsego Fire Department responds to all types of fires, priority 1 and 2 medical emergencies, motor vehicle crashes, vehicle extrications, confined space & rope rescue incidents, ice & swift water rescues, and hazardous material spills. The department is proud of its ability to respond and meet the challenges of providing emergency services to the Otsego area.
RESPONSE POLICY DATA & EVALUATION
Click to view the Otsego Fire Department Response Policy Data & Evaluation
APPARATUS
Overwhelming community support makes it possible for the department to obtain and maintain modern equipment and apparatus. The department maintains a fleet of 8 apparatus:
- 2017 Ford F350 Extended Cab Medical Squad with roll out Extenda-Bed (licensed Life Support Vehicle)
- 2014 Spartan Metrostar Engine with 800 gallon water tank and 1500gpm pump
- 2010 Ford Crown Victoria Command vehicle
- 2003 HME Combination Engine/Water Tender with 2500 gallon water tank and 1500gpm pump
- 2002 Ford F350 Extended Cab Utility/Support Vehicle with roll out Extendo-Bed
- 2001 HME Heavy Rescue with walk through body
- 1993 Spartan Gladiator 75′ Aerial Platform with 350 gallon water tank and 1500gpm pump
- 1991 Ford F350 Grass/Brush Fire vehicle with 250 gallon water tank and 18HP Briggs & Stratton V-Twin pump
The quality of the equipment, level of training, and available water supply allows the department to help property owners save money in the form of lowered fire insurance rates. The current fire insurance rating (ISO) for the City of Otsego/Otsego Township is 4/4X, which is very good for a community our size.
PERSONNEL
The department is comprised of five part-time Fire Officers who have administrative responsibilities in addition to responding to calls for service; up to 29 paid-on-call Firefighters, who respond to calls for service when they are available; and 1 full-time Firefighter/Lieutenant, who works a regularly scheduled Monday through Friday 8AM to 5PM shift, who is available to promptly respond to emergencies, as well as handle administrative duties and public outreach. Members of the department are required to attend training sessions twice a month. The Otsego Fire Department is always accepting applications. Individuals interested in joining the department may contact City Hall or download and complete the application here or at the top of this page. Completed applications should be submitted to Otsego City Hall. Experience is not required, and if hired, training is provided. New personnel are hired after a lengthy process involving interviews, background checks, physical agility tests, and a thorough physical examination by an occupational medicine clinic at Allegan General Hospital.
The Otsego Fire Department and Rescue participates in numerous charitable activities throughout the year. We participate is safety days, raise donated funds to purchase additional equipment, and annually hold a Halloween candy check at the Fire Station. Tours of the Fire Station and fire safety programs are provided to children and school groups. Most anyone who has attended Otsego Public Schools remembers the fire safety program in October during Fire Prevention Month. Each year this program is provided to hundreds of school and pre-school children to help educate them about the dangers of fire. If you are interested in scheduling one of these programs, please call 269-694-4390.
Here are a short list of actions which can be taken which will allow us to maintain our fast response time:
- Have large easily seen address numbers on your home that can be seen from the street or clearly marked at the street on your mailbox.
- Keep fire hydrants clear of tall grass, brush or snow.
- Turn on outside lights to help us identify homes quickly when possible.
- Have someone wait at the end of the driveway to signal approaching emergency vehicles.
- Remain on the telephone with the 911 dispatcher.
