COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Coldwater Fire Chief Dave Schmaltz presented his department’s annual report to the City Council Monday night and said calls for service went up in 2018 when compared to the previous year.
The report showed that the department responded to 1,440 calls for service which was up eight percent from 2017 and 28 percent over the last five years.
Total fire responses also went up by 14 percent from 2017 and requests for EMS has increased by 25 percent from 2014.
Schmaltz said there were no recorded firefighter or civilian injuries and no civilian casualties.
2018 was a year of change for the Coldwater Fire Department. Chief Rich Sherman retired last July after serving the department for over 39 years. Part-Paid Firefighter Jake Kruszka retired in July after over 38 years of service and Fire Marshal Paul Dove went to work for the State of Michigan after 24 years of service in Coldwater.
Along with the departures, Jack Trayling was promoted to Captain, Eric Sherman was promoted to Lieutenant, Steve Trall was promoted to Fire Marshal and Firefighter Jeff Whitehead was promoted to Driver/Operator.
