Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department

You can make a difference by donating today to Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department. Last summer, we received a FEMA grant for a new rescue truck, totaling $173,000.00. We are $45,000 short of the total purchase price. This new vehicle is replacing a 1985 pickup truck that is a mechanical nightmare and unsafe. The rescue truck will carry a vast array of rescue equipment for various types of emergencies and it will respond throughout the region when requested.

We are an IRS designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, so your donations are fully tax deductible. We receive no tax funding and our operating expenses are funded by donations, grants and our fundraising events. Your donation is greatly appreciated.

The members of the Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department are asking for your financial support to allow us to continue to provide quality emergency services to the citizens and visitors of Keweenaw and Houghton Counties. We trust that you, your family, employees and/or friends enjoy the recreational opportunities that Keweenaw County offers, particularly the trail system. In addition to the hospitality industry, nearly every business in the Copper Country benefits in some way from the dollars spent here by tourists seeking the adventure our trail system and recreational opportunities offer.

The mission of the Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department is to protect lives and property in the Village of Ahmeek, the Village of Copper City and all other areas whereby assistance is requested, through mutual or automatic aid. This mission is accomplished by the provision of firefighting and rescue services, fire prevention activities and community collaboration.

The Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department has been serving the residents and visitors of Keweenaw County faithfully since 1909. We are an all volunteer organization and an IRS designated 501(c)(3) public charity. In addition to providing fire, rescue and emergency medical services to the area, we are the sole provider of off road rescue service for all of Keweenaw County, which is the largest county in Michigan by land and water area.  The vast majority of our emergency incidents are of two types: structure fires and vehicle rescues. 

Known for its recreational trail system, Keweenaw County is an outdoors paradise and maintains hundreds of miles of trails utilized by all terrain vehicles in the spring and summer and snowmobiles during the fall and winter. With an annual snowfall amount above 200 inches, the county is a premier destination for powersports enthusiasts from throughout the Midwest and Canada. The county is also home to 23 parks and beaches, ten waterfalls, six scenic drives and 12 lighthouses. This results in over 200,000 visitors per year, making tourism the number one driver of the economy. With this influx of tourists, comes added public safety responsibilities. Specific to the recreational trails, the combination of excessive speed, unfamiliarity with the trails, darkness, alcohol use and wild animal/large game movement often results in tragedy for trail users.

EMS transport is provided by a third service and the majority of our operational members are either Emergency Medical Technicians or
Medical First Responders.  We currently have no rescue tools for extricating victims from wreckages.   Funding for such equipment and other necessities is non-existent due to the demographics of the area. Within our first due fire response area, 42% of the residents live in poverty, as compared to an estimated national poverty rate of 12%.

We receive no tax money, due to the extremely low tax base. Ahmeek Village directly pays for fuel for our pumper and electricity for our station. Income to sustain our operations is derived from donations, grants and two fundraising events we hold each year. They include a spaghetti dinner and 4th of July celebration. We have learned from past experience that any additional fundraisers will not be supported by the community. While the village is full of caring citizens, they simply do not have the means to support us any further.  Because of these economic factors, we are unable to replace most broken and non-compliant equipment. We are also unable to add equipment required for our mission and to improve firefighter safety and reduce community risk and loss. Our annual budget ranges between $6,000 and $8,000.

Last summer, we were fortunate enough to receive a grant from FEMA for a small rescue truck. Unfortunately, our grant request for tools and equipment for the truck was not approved. As such, we will essentially have an empty truck until such time that we secure corporate donations and sponsorships. Additionally, we are $45,000 short of the total amount of the vehicle, which is a Ford F550, being outfitted with a rescue body by Pierce Manufacturing. This new vehicle will replace a 1985 pickup truck, which was donated to us by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. It is a mechanical nightmare, unreliable and unsafe. 

Our objective is to save lives through a rapid response to motor vehicle collisions and other rescue incidents by deploying modern extrication and rescue equipment. The overall expected outcome of this project is an increased accident/disaster victim survivability rate. Currently, the odds of survival of a person with severe traumatic injuries are not in their favor. The term "golden hour" is utilized as an industry standard regarding victim survivability. The best chance for survival is the delivery of a victim to definitive medical care within one hour of sustaining a severe traumatic injury.

Because we currently have no vehicle extrication/rescue tools, we must wait for the equipment to arrive from the other end of our county, (the largest county in Michigan), or the adjoining county. Couple this with an extended transport time to a trauma center results in little to no possibility of delivering that patient to definitive medical care within one hour of the accident, thereby dramatically reducing their chance of survival. We want to save lives but it can be difficult to do so without the required equipment.

We are seeking donations of any amount in order to pay for our new rescue truck which is scheduled to arrive in October. If you appreciate the work we do  in our communities, please consider a donation to help us continue to provide the services that our residents and visitors deserve. While we are seeking donations of considerable amounts, every dollar helps us reach our goal. Your consideration is greatly appreciated.

Unless otherwise requested, we will advertise your support on our Facebook page.

Michael Defina

Captain/Grants Administrator