Fire Department · Volunteer
Carson City Fire Department
Carson City, MI · Montcalm County
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The Carson City Fire Department serves the small city of Carson City in Montcalm County, Michigan, along with a rural coverage area that includes Bloomer, North Shade, and New Haven townships. The department's insignia dates its founding to 1877, and it operates as a volunteer department under the city government, with a roster of 14 members at the end of 2025 led by Fire Chief Mark Crawfis.
2025 was the department's busiest year on record at 77 runs, up from 64 the year before and well above its 10-year average of about 62 calls per year. The workload is typical of a rural Michigan department: vehicle accidents, downed power lines, grass and agricultural fires, carbon monoxide alarms, and EMS lift assists, with mutual and automatic aid making up a significant share — 22 runs given to surrounding departments in 2025, including Crystal, Sheridan, Ashley, Maple Rapids, and the GESA (Ithaca/Perrinton) area. Firefighters averaged a 10-minute-53-second alarm-to-on-scene response time in 2025, with an average of 4.4 members responding per call.
The apparatus fleet includes an engine (a new engine was delivered at the start of 2026, replacing a 47-year-old reserve), a water tender, a command post van, grass and brush trucks (the brush truck carries a skid unit funded in part by a $20,000 donation from North Shade Township), a portable pump, and an ice rescue trailer. The department publishes a detailed annual report each year covering its alarm activity, training, and fleet.
Carson City is a volunteer department that recruits from its own community, and its 2025 annual report notes it is continually and actively looking for new members. New firefighters complete the Montcalm County Fire Association fire academy — the Carson City station itself hosts academy training sessions and state final testing — and probationary firefighters certify by passing the Michigan state written exam.
There is no standing application portal; prospective members contact the department at firedept@carsoncitymi.com or through Carson City City Hall at (989) 584-3515.
Recruits complete the Montcalm County Fire Association fire academy; the Carson City station hosts academy sessions and state final testing.
Is the Carson City Fire Department in Michigan recruiting new members?
Yes — as of its 2025 annual report, the department is continually and actively looking for new personnel and is considering adding a support group role for members who assist outside of firefighting duties.
When does the Carson City Fire Department train?
The department holds morning and evening training sessions on the second and third Wednesdays of each month, using the IFSTA Essentials of Firefighting curriculum. Members must meet Michigan's continuing education minimums of 6 hours per year and 36 hours over a 3-year window.
What community programs does the department run?
The department delivers fire prevention education in local schools — reaching about 300 students across three schools in 2025 — partners with the American Red Cross to install smoke detectors, and handles burn permits with the city. It also provides ice rescue coverage with a dedicated trailer.