Cedar Area Fire & Rescue

05/06/2026

Congratulations to our newest Academy Graduates! 🎓🔥

Cedar Area Fire and Rescue is incredibly proud to announce the graduation of Firefighter Grant and Firefighter/EMT Zolnierek from the Northwest Regional Fire Training Center.

These two have put in countless hours of rigorous training, sweat, and dedication to sharpen their skills and serve our community at the highest level. We are honored to have them on our team and can’t wait to see them put that training into action.

Please join us in congratulating them on this massive achievement!

05/04/2026

*updated*
*All hazards resolved🚦🌲✅*
Be advised ⚠️
S Cedar Rd, near the cross of Alpine Rd, is closed due to a tree in the road.
Also the stop light of S Cedar Rd and 72 is not working at this time.
We will advise updates when we can.

05/01/2026

Grilling Season Is Here! 🍔🌭

The weather is finally warming up, and we know everyone is itching to fire up the grill. Before you throw those burgers on, take a look at these 6 essential safety tips to keep your backyard BBQ fun and fire-free:
1: Give it Space
-Keep your grill at least 3 feet away from your home. This includes siding, deck railings, and overhanging eaves. High heat can melt vinyl siding and ignite wood surfaces faster than you think.
2: The "Kid and Pet" Zone
-Establish a 3 feet safety zone around the grill. Keep children and pets away from the cooking area to prevent accidental bumps or burns.
3: Open Before You Ignite
-If you're using a gas grill, always open the lid before lighting it. If the lid is closed, gas can build up inside and cause a dangerous flash fire when you strike the igniter.
4: Never Leave it Lonely
-Stay with your grill! It only takes a second for a flare-up to get out of control. Never walk away while the burners are on or the coals are hot.
5: Keep it Clean
-A clean grill is a safe grill. Regularly remove grease and fat buildup from the trays below and the grates above. Grease is one of the leading causes of grill fires.
6: Safe Coal Disposal
-For charcoal fans: once you're finished, let the coals cool completely. Always place them in a metal can with a lid- never in a plastic trash bin or a cardboard box.

Let's keep the "fire" in the fire pit and out of the house! Stay safe, enjoy the sun, and tag a "Grill Master" who needs this reminder. ☀️🚒

05/01/2026

Happy Anniversary to Firefighter/EMT-B Sam Kelly! FF/EMT Kelly joined the department in 2024 as a part time member.

FF/EMT Kelly's passion for the craft is undeniable. If there's a training exercise happening or a new technique to learn, you can bet he's right in the middle of it. He can also be found assisting at the fire academy on his days off.

04/24/2026

Did you know ... about What3Words?

What3Words is a locating app that breaks the entire globe down into 10'x10' squares, each with their own unique set of 3 words.

If you are lost or injured in the outdoors and call 911, you can give dispatch the three words for where you are and dispatch can use those words to direct responders to your specific location. Leelanau County Dispatch has already used the program multiple times to assist with finding lost and injured people in the large recreation areas in our county!

We know a lot of you are excited to start getting out into the outdoors this spring! Help us help you! Check it out!

Every 3 metre square has a unique 3 word address.

04/17/2026

🚨 VIDEO TOUR ALERT! 🚨

Say hello to the newest member of the fleet: Alpha 891! 🚑💨
We’re taking you behind the scenes and through the back doors for an exclusive virtual tour. From life-saving tech to the smoothest ride in the area, see what happens inside the rig before the sirens start blaring.
👇 Step inside the tour below!

04/16/2026

AMBULANCE FOR SALE! 🚑🚨

Year: 2012
Mileage: 106,593 miles
Type: Medium Duty
Chassis Manufacturer: International
Chassis Model: Terrastar
Fuel Type: Diesel
Drive Type: 2WD
Ambulance Manufacturer: McCoy Miller
Module Length: 171Inches
Module Headroom: 72Inches
Cab Access: Walk-Through Door (Crawl-Through)
Location: Cedar, Michigan
Stretcher: Stryker Manual Stretcher

Price= $18,000

Please contact for inquires or questions.

04/15/2026

CAFR had a much slower March in 2026 than in 2025, but still finished the month with almost 40 calls for service. April and May are generally our primary wildfire season, but with all of the rain that may not be the case this year! We still ask you to be safe if you decide to burn brush or do anything that would cause sparks or fire outside - check the DNR burn map for burn bans and make sure that any fires are fully extinguished before the weather dries out.

04/14/2026

The Cedar Area Fire & Rescue Board meeting locations are changing! Meetings will now rotate between the four township halls - meeting locations for the rest of 2026 are listed below. All meetings will continue to be at 5 pm.

May 4 (Monday) Kasson
June 3 Centerville
July 1 Cleveland
August 5 Solon
September 2 Cleveland
October 7 Centerville
November 4 Kasson
December 2 Solon

04/10/2026

Did you know ... that in 2018 Cedar Area Fire & Rescue bought their first new brush truck in over 30 years?

Before 2018, the brush truck used by CAFR for wildland fires was a 1984 Dodge pickup, which saw its fair share of fires in its 34-year history. The 2018 brush truck has now been in service for 8 years and you will likely see it on the road in upcoming weeks as we move into wildfire season!

04/05/2026

Hop, drop, and roll... into a happy Easter!

04/03/2026

Did you know ... that it's almost spring?!? For the fire department, that means it's almost wildland fire season.

Over the last few years, there have been numerous instances of wildfires causing structure fires in the northern Michigan region. You can help us by looking at your property with an eye toward defensible space while you are doing your spring cleanups! The attached image shows some ways to create defensible space on your property, and the firewise.org website offers many more tips!