Park Township Marine Operations Scott Gamby is the Park Township Fire Chief. He started his career in industry, but was attracted to firefighting after an invitation by a friend. He worked for the City of Holland Fire Department before starting at Park Township.
In recent years, there have been many changes and growth in Ottawa County Fire Departments. The Sheriff's department turned over EMT services to fire departments. The US Coast Guard (USCG) left their station in Holland, where an average of 20 water incidents a year happen. Park Township needed to change the FD from a land-based department to one that worked on water as well. New training and equipment were required, as well as access to the water. For the best survival rates, rescuers should reach a person in distress within 5 minutes. In 1885, the US Life Saving Service (LSS) established a rescue station on Lake Macatawa. For 137 years, the LSS and its successor, the USCG, ran search and rescue operations from that station. After the USCG closed the station, Park Township was able to purchase it for $1.4 Million using federal and state grants. The Sheriff, Fire Department Marine Division, DNR State Park enforcement, and the USCG will share rescue operations from the station. It has already become a model of inter-agency cooperation in the state. There is a possibility that the DNR research vessel will dock at this station when it is performing fish and wildlife studies in southern Lake Michigan. Rescue service is not just for residents of the area. Park Township contains 18 miles of shoreline and is a destination for tourism. Holland State Park has 2.5 million visitors every year. The City of Holland has a rescue boat docked 5+ miles from the Lake Michigan channel. Park Township has FD jet skis stationed on both sides of Lake Macatawa for rescues. In the future, they would like to have a fully equipped medical boat, and a fire boat. So far this year, there have been 2 water rescues: an overturned canoe and an engine fire. Watch for an open house at the new station in August.
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