VIDEO/PHOTOS: Almira Township Fire and EMS Department in Benzie County has transitioned to 24-hour staffing to address a rising call volume. The department, which has a roster of 20 people including four full-time staff, now ensures that two people are on duty during the day, seven days a week. In the evenings, staffing is reduced to one or sometimes two personnel.
To accommodate the new schedule, the staff converted their old locker room into sleeping quarters.
Almira Township Fire and EMS Chief Brad Drury explained, “The station was never designed for 24 hours per say. It had a lot of futuristic covered plans that we could adapt to, but we basically are having at least one person here staying the night. Had to figure out some kind of sleeping quarters for them so that they can actually have the ability to stay here 24 hours a day.”
While finishing touches on the dormitories are still in progress, they are nearly complete thanks to furniture donations.
