Fire Chief McGee Makes Holly Full-Time Focus, Announces New Station and More
(Drew Saunders, July 25, 2018)
Holly, MI – Holly Fire Chief Steve McGee is excited to expand the scope, efficiency and quality of the services provided to the village that he now serves full-time. McGee’s years of experience have already been an asset to the Village, although he working part time for Holly and part time for Groveland Township. The move helps the Village to implement several new fire-prevention initiatives including a new life support system, moving to a new fire station, increasing quality of service, introducing annual fire inspections with awards given to businesses who go above and beyond the call of duty.
It’s a lot of work, but in a community that is rapidly blossoming with increased home values and an in-demand downtown, the new efforts are part of the wave of optimism in the cozy NW Oakland County village. “I love it. I thought it would be a little slower pace, but based on what we’re doing, it’s not,” McGee said.
Improving performance means offering more medical response training, bringing EMTS up from general to advanced life support certifications. And since June 15 staffing levels have increased so there is at least one paramedic and an EMT on duty at all times.
“We never had that. We were only ten hours per day before June 15, so now we have round the clock coverage. And paramedics provide a higher level of service,” McGee said.
McGee’s full time presence is not the only new addition to Holly’s fire-fighting efforts. Holly’s aging fire station is going to be replaced soon by a new location at 414 N. Saginaw Street. The 1,200 square foot building is currently being renovated to accommodate the big red trucks and the team of firefighters who keep the community safe. The renovation should cost about $300,000 and should be completed early in 2019. McGee, who is also a licensed builder, is doing some of the work himself.
“It used to be Midwest Diesel, or S & S Diesel,” Holly Downtown Development Authority Director Kathy Hughes said. “It will be right in the middle of the village, which I think should serve the residents in the 2.6 square miles so much better than their current location, which is kind of cut off by the railroad tracks.”
McGee is happy in Holly. “I like the community,” he said. “It’s very close knit. The people have very similar values and high expectations, and are active participants in the community.”
The Village of Holly Fire Department was formed in 2004, and currently has a staff of 25 that includes part time and on-call members. Annually they respond to over 800 calls for service that include fire and EMS. Thus far in 2018 the team has handled 397 calls.
To learn more about the Village of Holly Fire Department, visit their website at http://www.hollyfiredepartment.org/.