Bronson Fire Department

The Bronson Fire Department (BFD) was notified of a partial building collapse at 560 South Snow Prairie Road around 1:30AM Tuesday morning. Fire crews arrived to find a two-car attached garage completely destroyed and a portion of the roof and wall of the kitchen missing from an isolated extreme wind event. The roof and walls of the garage were located 25 yards from where the garage once stood. Firefighters shut off LP gas to the structure and called for Consumer's Energy to disconnect power to the house due to substantial structural damage. An irrigation pivot system in a nearby field was toppled and several trees in the yard were uprooted.

Emergency responders were on scene for an hour and fifteen minutes. The occupants were home when the damage occurred. There were no injuries.

BFD responding units:

Car 7
Engine 3
Tanker 10

The flag at the Bronson Fire Department is displayed at half-staff in honor of Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Deputy William “Bill” Butler Jr.

LANSING, Mich. -- Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and upon all public buildings and grounds across the state of Michigan to be lowered to half-staff on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, to honor the life and service of Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Deputy William “Bill” Butler Jr., who passed away in the line of duty.

“Deputy Butler was a proud family man, small business owner, and dedicated officer who served both his nation and his neighbors in uniform,” said Governor Whitmer. “As a Sheriff’s Deputy, he served Hillsdale County admirably, making a real difference in the lives of the people he loved most. As we mourn his loss, our hearts are with his wife, Sarah, their five children, their two grandchildren, and all those who knew and served with him in Hillsdale and overseas.”

Deputy Butler graduated from Hillsdale High School and began working at Bailey Factory in Hillsdale. Deputy Butler served in the United States Army National Guard for 20 years, serving overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom and later working as a recruiter. Deputy Butler then joined the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office, serving 12 years. Deputy Butler was also the broker-owner and realtor for Pure Realty Team, Hillsdale Real Estate affiliate, and he enjoyed traveling, boating, fishing, and spending time with his family. Deputy Butler is survived by his wife, Sarah, their five children, two grandchildren, his parents, and his sister.

The State of Michigan recognizes the duty, honor, and selfless service of Sheriff’s Deputy Butler by lowering flags to half-staff. Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments, and other organizations also are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff.

To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.

Flags should be returned to full-staff on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

The flag at the Bronson Fire Station is displayed at half-staff today in honor of Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Bradley Reckling.

LANSING, Mich. -- Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and upon all public buildings and grounds across the state of Michigan to be lowered to half-staff on Friday, June 28, 2024, to honor the life and service of Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Bradley Reckling, who passed away in the line of duty.

“Deputy Reckling was a dedicated officer, husband, and dad who worked hard to keep his community safe,” said Governor Whitmer. “For years, he served Oakland County admirably, earning several awards for his professionalism. As we mourn his loss, our hearts are with his wife, Jacqueline, their three young daughters, their fourth child on the way, and all those who knew and served with him.”

Deputy Bradley Reckling had been with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office for nine years and was assigned to the Auto Theft Unit. He received numerous awards during his career, including commendations for life saving, meritorious service, and professional excellence. Deputy Reckling, a Romeo High School graduate, was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed raising animals and taking care of his farm. Deputy Reckling is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and their three daughters, with their fourth child on the way.

The State of Michigan recognizes the duty, honor, and selfless service of Deputy Reckling by lowering flags to half-staff. Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments, and other organizations also are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff.

To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.

Flags should be returned to full staff on Saturday, June 29, 2024.

Thank you to local IT contractor Keith Nearpass and his son Mason for installing our security system at the satellite station!

Happy Birthday Firefighter John Monroe and thank you for 39 years of service to the Bronson Community!

The Branch County Fire Chiefs Council is in search of a building to use for county-wide fire training in September. Is there a building you know of that is slated for demolition? The location needs to be within close proximity to a fire hydrant. We will be flowing copious amounts of water inside the structure (no fire will be used). The bigger, the better, preferably multiple floors. If something comes to mind, please comment, send a message, or call the Bronson Fire Department. Please share this post as well (Thank you).

Please join us Saturday June 15th from 1PM to 2PM at the Bronson Fire Department Satellite Station located at 608 West Southern Road for an open house. We will also be blessing Tanker 10 at 1PM.

Thank you AAA – The Auto Club Group (ACG) Foundation for partnering with the Bronson Fire Department on our Lifting Air Bag System project. Replacing our old, outdated air bags allows us to keep our first responders and the public safe when a patient is trapped underneath a vehicle or a piece of equipment. The commitment of the ACG Foundation to improve traffic safety by investing in this worthwhile project has the potential to save lives!

Happy Birthday Firefighter Jason Smith and thank you for 14 years of service to the Bronson community!

Happy Birthday Firefighter Camaren Smith and thank you for your first year of service to the Bronson community!

Congratulations Chloe Garr for successful completion of the Emergency Medical Technician course and for receiving the Outstanding Medical First Responder Canidate Award for the spring semester!

Happy Birthday Firefighter/EMT Don Rinehart and thank you for your first 2 1/2 years of service to the Bronson community!

Congratulations Kurt Beuerle on successful completion of the Advanced Pump Operations class! Kurt and firefighters from Coldwater and Quincy spent the weekend learning about fire truck pump operations including drafting, rural hitch, and relay pumping. The class culminated Sunday with a practical session where the students put what they learned into action. The picture below shows Bronson Engine 3 pumping 1960 gallons of water per minute as it is being supplied by Quincy and Coldwater's engines.

Branch County Central Dispatch notified the Bronson Fire Department (BFD) of a house fire at 241 Hyska Road in Bronson Township just before 2:30AM Sunday. Fire crews arrived to find a two-story farmhouse fully engulfed in flames and 50% on the ground. The fire had been burning for considerable time before being discovered by a passerby. BFD used approximately 20,000 gallons of water to extinguish the blaze. No one was home at the time of the fire. Bronson Firefighters were on scene for 3 hours. There were no injuries. The house and contents were a total loss. Lightning may have been the cause. The American Red Cross is assisting the homeowner.

Responding BFD Units:

Car 7 (Command)
Engine 3
Tanker 10
Engine 2
Tanker 4
Rescue 5

Branch County Central Dispatch notified the Bronson Fire Department (BFD) of a pole barn fire Sunday just before 2:30 Sunday afternoon at 903 West Shore Drive in Matteson Township. Fire crews arrived to find a 24'X36' pole barn with heavy smoke coming from the roof. Both Colon and Sherwood Fire Departments provided one tanker each. Approximately 20,000 gallons of water were used to extinguish the blaze. Lifecare Ambulance and the Branch County Sheriff's Department also responded. A lawn mower that was just returned to the barn around 10 minutes prior to the discovery of the fire is the probable cause. Fire crews were on scene for three hours. One firefighter suffered a minor injury.

BFD responding units:

Car 7 (Command)
Engine 3
Tanker 10
Engine 2
Tanker 4
Rescue 5

Branch County Central Dispatch notified the Bronson Fire Department (BFD) of a pole barn fire at 674 Farrand Road in Matteson Township 7:43PM Thursday. Fire crews arrived to find fire coming from the roof of an approximately 40'X70' pole barn. A nearby house 25' away did not suffer any damage due to quick action by the firefighters. No one was home when the fire broke out. A neighbor noticed the smoke and called 911. Sherwood, Colon, and Union City Fire Departments provided mutual aid tanker trucks.

Damages to the contents are estimated at $150,000 and to the building at $100,000. Crews were on scene for four-and-a-half hours and used approximatly 80,000 gallons of water. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined.

BFD responding units: Car 7, Engine 3, Tanker 10, Tanker 4, Engine 2, and Rescue 5.

Thank you to Lakeland, Burr Oak, and Colon Fire Departments for joining us for Rural Hitch and Tanker Shuttle training!

The Branch County Victim Services Unit is looking for volunteers to help serve the Branch County community. We act as liasons, we comfort survivors and families, we provide them with resources and as much assistance as we can. If you are interested in volunteering with a great group of people doing amazing work, contact us by responding to this post and we'll get you an application. Thank you!

Happy Birthday Captain Jamie Mayer and thank you for 27 years of service to the Bronson community!

The Bronson Fire Department is honored to have received a donation in memory of Kevin "Spanky" Smoker. It will be used to purchase life-saving medical equipment for our medical first responder program.

The weekend proved busy for the Bronson Fire Department (BFD). Starting off with the lunch hour Friday, BFD responded to a two vehicle motor vehicle accident involving a delivery van and a straight truck at the intersection of Parham and Cranson Roads. Car 7, Engine 2, and Rescue 5 responded.

Saturday is when things started to get hectic for BFD with the first of four fire calls coming in just before 1:30PM, a grass fire near Wheeler Road and US12. The fire was less than 50 yards from a barn full of equipment when fire crews arrived. Coldwater Fire Department was called for one grass truck. Approximately 5 acres burned along the railroad tracks. Car 7, Engine 3, and Truck 8 responded for BFD. The cause of the fire was arson as someone started the fire at the railroad tracks on wheeler road. If anyone has information regarding the fire, please contact Bronson Fire Chief Scott Wilber at (517) 369-6475, or Branch County Sherrif’s Deputy Roy Shutts at 517-278-2325. Crews were on scene for over an hour.

The second call came in three minutes after the first which split BFD crews with the second heading in the opposite direction for a grass fire approaching a structure at 1114 Sielkens Road. Crews arrived to find flames within 5’ of a garage. Crews were on scene for just under an hour. Engine 2, Truck 11, and Tanker 4 responded. The fire started from a spark from a burn barrel.

At 3:39 Branch County Central Dispatch notified BFD of a barn fire at 1082 Sielkins Road. Despite being just down the road from the grass fire earlier in the day, the two fires were unrelated. BFD responded with Engine 3, Tanker 4, and Rescue 5. Burr Oak provided a tanker and a grass rig through mutual aid, and Tri-Township Fire provided manpower. A dilapidated hip roof barn full of hay was enveloped in flames upon arrival. The siding on the house, which was forty yards away, was melting. Crews were on scene for three and a half hours. The fire started from a nearby brush fire.

At 3:47PM Saturday the fire whistle was sounded yet again causing BFD crews to split a second time for a reported 10-acre grass fire near Arbogast Road. Crews were on scene for an hour. Car 7, Engine 2, Truck 8, and Truck 11 responded. Union City provided a tanker and grass truck. The fire was sparked by a brush hog which hit a rock.

Sunday kicked off for BFD with a 60-acre corn stubble fire on Adams Road with the response of Car 7, Engine 3, Tanker 4, Truck 8, and Truck 11. Lakeland Fire provided one grass truck. Crews were on scene for an hour and 15 minutes.

While returning from Adams Road, Lakeland Fire requested mutual aid from Bronson for a grass truck and manpower at 1437 Southern Road. Car 7, Truck 8, and Tanker 4 were near Gilead Lake and Southern Roads returning from the Adams Road fire when the call came in. They turned around to respond and were on scene with Lakeland for over an hour. Fremont Fire also provided a UTV and manpower.

Finally, BFD responded to a carbon monoxide alarm at Gilead Lake shortly after 9:30PM Sunday evening.

There were no injuries at any of the fire calls over the weekend.

BFD would like to thank our mutual aid partners for their hard work over the weekend.

The flag at the Bronson Fire Station is displayed at half-staff in honor of U.S Marine Captain Miguel Nava.

LANSING, Mich. -- Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and across all public buildings and grounds to be lowered to half-staff on Saturday, March 2 to honor and remember fallen U.S Marine Captain Miguel Nava, who passed away at the age of 28 during a helicopter training accident outside of San Diego.

“Captain Miguel Nava represented the best of Michigan as he served our nation in uniform,” said Governor Whitmer. “A proud husband, father, son, and brother, he made a real difference in the lives of the people he loved. He leaves behind a legacy of leadership that we should all strive to live up to. Our hearts go out to Captain Nava’s family, friends, and fellow Marines through this difficult time. We will always be here for you.”

Captain Nava grew up in Comstock Park and attended Comstock Park High School where he played soccer and football. He served on the student council and as a mentor to younger students across the school district. In 2013, he was nominated and accepted to both the U.S. Naval Academy and Air Force Academy but chose the Naval Academy to study. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 2017. Nava is survived by his wife, Ryann, son, brother, Nikolas, and parents, Lisa and Javier Nava.

The State of Michigan recognizes the duty, honor, and service of fallen U.S. Marine Captain Miguel Nava by lowering flags to half-staff. Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments, and other organizations also are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff.

To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.

Flags should be returned to full staff on Sunday, March 3.

The Bronson Fire Department (BFD) was notified of a barn fire at 486 Hoopingarner Road in Gilead Township Sunday evening just after 7PM by Branch County Central Dispatch. Fire crews arrived to find a 60' X 200' hog barn with flames and heavy smoke showing from the exterior. Approximately 60,000 gallons of water was used to bring the fire under control. BFD was able to put two engines to work with one on each long side of the building.

A key factor to keeping the fire contained to one building was that BFD now has two 3500-gallon tankers rather than one. The new Tanker 10, which arrived several weeks ago, also responded. Having two tankers allowed both engines to be supplied with additional water on the initial attack. Several other large barns in close proximity suffered no damage and the barn where the fire started is still standing (see last two pictures).

In addition to BFD's response, Lakeland, Fremont, and Orland fire departments provided mutual aid. Lifecare Ambulance also stood by in case of injuries. There were no hogs inside the barn at the time of the blaze and no one was injured fighting the fire. It is believed that an LP heater caused the fire. Crews were on scene for around five hours.

BFD would like to thank our mutual aid partners for their hard work at the scene.

Thank you to Bob Swift for helping us firm up the driveway and parking lot with some crushed limestone at the satellite station!

Branch County Central Dispatch notified the Bronson Fire Department (BFD) of a residential structure fire with smoke and flames showing at 945 Wattles Road in Matteson Township Thursday just after 3PM. Fire crews arrived to find a single-wide mobile home with flames showing from the exterior. BFD quickly extinguished the blaze which was started by an electrical short. Approximately 1500 gallons of water was used. The damage to the structure was estimated at $2,000. There were no injuries. The Sherwood Township Fire Department also responded with one tanker. Crews were on scene for around one hour.

Respond for BFD: Car 7 (command), Engine 3, Engine 2, Tanker 4, and Rescue 5.

The Bronson Fire Department (BFD) was notified of a house fire today at 7:30AM by Branch County Central Dispatch. It was reported flames and smoke were visible at 293 W Southern Road in Gilead Township. One non-ambulatory occupant was removed from the structure by family prior to the fire departments arrival.

Fire crews arrived to find smoke coming from the roof of a large single story residential structure. There were family members spraying water into the attic on the fire with a garden hose. Fire crews accessed the attic by pulling down drywall and extinguished the fire which was above three rooms in the house. Lakeland and Orland Indiana Fire Departments both provided one tanker truck each.

Fire crews were on scene for 2 hours-and-a-half hours. Around 1750 gallons of water was used to extinguish the blaze. Damages to the structure are estimated at $75,000. One civilian was transported by Lifecare Ambulance for smoke inhalation. The Branch Sheriff's Department also responded to the scene. The fire was caused by an electrical short.

Responding for BFD: Car 7, Engine 3, Tanker 4, Engine 2 and Rescue 5.

Happy Birthday Firefighter Kurt McConn and thank you for 22 years of service to the Bronson community!

Happy Birthday Firefighter/Training Officer Kurt Beuerle and thank you for five years of service to the Bronson community!

Happy Birthday Firefighter Mariah Cutler and thank you for two years of service to the Bronson community!

Happy Birthday to our newest firefighter Chloe Garr!