Cedar Area Fire & Rescue

08/13/2025

An equipment failure led to raw sewage entering Lake Leelanau, prompting a public health advisory. Residents should avoid contact with the water until further notice.

08/04/2025

July wasn't quite as record-setting for CAFR as June, but it was still a busy month! Our run volume for the year-to-date is still substantially higher than at this time last year, putting us on track for our busiest year ever. We hope all of you stay safe in the heat that is expected over the next couple weeks, and enjoy our beautiful area without needing our services!

08/04/2025

Wearing a properly fitted U.S. Coast Gaurd approved life jacket (AKA: personal flotation device or PFD for short) is the first rule of safe boating.
It is also the law for little children: “All children under 6 years of age must wear a USCO-approved Type I or I| PFD when riding on the open deck of any vessel while underway.”

Drowning is preventable - wear a life jacket! 👏

08/04/2025

The community survey for the upcoming Strategic Plan will be closing at the end of this week. If you haven't done so yet, please give us your thoughts on the current and future status of the fire department!

Cedar Area Fire & Rescue is beginning to prepare our next five year strategic plan. Part of the planning process is gathering input from our community. By completing this short survey you will be helping us identify where we are as an organization and where we can better serve you!

07/23/2025

With the abnormally warm and humid weather heading we are going to be dealing with, here are some things to be mindful of.

Hydrate:
•Carry a water bottle and refill it frequently throughout the day
•Add electrolytes to your beverage to replenish the sodium levels in your body.
•Consider limiting beverages high in sugars and sodium, caffeine, and alcohol, if possible.
•Check your urine color. When it's light yellow or clear, it usually means you are drinking enough water.
•Don’t forget about the animals!

Stay Cool:
•Limit your time outside to avoid over exposure to the heat
•If you have to be outside, try to find a shaded location
•Plan your activities in the cooler parts of the day such as dawn or dusk.

High Risk:
•Some groups may need to be extra careful
~People, especially children, with asthma
~People with heart disease
~Pregnant women
~People 65 years of age or older
~People working outside
~Infants and young children

07/17/2025

June was the busiest month for CAFR in department history! With 366 calls so far in 2025, the department is also on track for its busiest year in history. The majority of the calls in June were for medical/rescue calls, but we also had a variety of other calls, from fires to storm-related power line and tree-down calls to service, good intent, and false alarm calls.

07/16/2025

We would like to say thank you to the individual who nominated CAFR for the DrinkLMNT give a salt!!!

These electrolyte supplements play a huge factor in keeping firefighters ready to perform at their highest level. Sodium is one of the most present electrolytes in sweat. The more you sweat, the more sodium you lose.
Did you know that firefighters could lose up to 40 ounces of fluid in approximately 30 minutes of fire suppression activities?
The atmosphere we work in is hot and humid. Add on the personal protective equipment needed to keep firefighters safe, heavy tools to assist in tasks and the high heart rate factor and you have one sweaty work environment.
Even on a hot and humid day, individuals still lose more fluids and sodium then on an average temperature day which could still lead to dehydration, cauising headaches or cramping. Taking an LMNT supplement to start your day will allow our firefighters to be ready for anything that is thrown their way!

We are humbled and grateful for this act of kindness from our community!

07/10/2025

We need your thoughts! Cedar Area Fire & Rescue is beginning to develop its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. We need community feedback and opinions to assist with this!

The community survey can be found at:

https://forms.gle/z1vLrJSqLGTtiKb49

Thank you to everyone who fills out the survey and helps us develop a complete and relevant Strategic Plan!

Cedar Area Fire & Rescue is beginning to prepare our next five year strategic plan. Part of the planning process is gathering input from our community. By completing this short survey you will be helping us identify where we are as an organization and where we can better serve you!

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July from all of us at Cedar Area Fire and Rescue! 🎉 We hope you're enjoying your holiday festivities.

As we celebrate the Fourth, many of you might be planning to celebrate with fireworks. We urge everyone to prioritize safety to prevent injuries and fires. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend professional public displays.

If you do plan to use consumer fireworks where they are legal, please follow these crucial safety tips:

* ✅Supervision is Key: Always have a responsible adult present and supervising all fireworks activities.
* 💦 Water Nearby: Keep a water hose or a bucket of water close by for emergencies and to douse spent fireworks.
* 🧨 Never Re-light: If a firework doesn't go off, do NOT try to re-light it. Wait 15-20 minutes and then douse it with water.
* 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️Safe Distance: Keep all spectators, especially children and pets, a safe distance away from where fireworks are being lit.
* ⛔️Clear Area: Use fireworks in a clear, open area, away from homes, dry grass, brush, and other flammable materials.
* 📦Storage: Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and heat sources.
* 🚮Dispose Properly: After fireworks have cooled, soak them in water before disposing of them in a metal trash can away from any buildings.

🚒We're here if you need us. This is a time to celebrate freedom and community, and we want it to be both joyful and safe for all. Let's look out for each other this weekend!

Have a wonderful 4th of July!🎆🎇🎆🎇

06/20/2025

This Saturday, Sunday, and Monday we are expecting dangerously high temperatures. Please refrain from heavy or intense work outside. If you must do that type of work, please do it in the early morning or evening hours when the sun is not high, hydrate, and rest frequently.
If you are with someone in the heat and they become confused, delirious, or unresponsive, if possible - get them to a cool place, then call 911.
Stay hydrated and stay safe!
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/

06/19/2025

We are extremely honored to be spotlighted in Fire Engineering about our training from this past fall.
To have our small town fire department be involved in a world renowned platform is a great honor and privilege.
The article dives into a mutual training that involves your Cedar Area Fire & Rescue firefighters, Glen Lake Fire Department firefighters and National Park Service Rangers. It highlights the skills and tactics that were trained on in order to keep our community members and those individuals who are visiting safe.
Take a minute to read the article and let us know what you think!
Thank you to Ms. York for taking the time to create this article!

06/04/2025

Huge congratulations to the newest graduates of the Northwest Regional Fire Training Center 2024/2025 Fire Academy! 🎉 We can't wait to see the incredible things you'll accomplish.

In this class was our newest addition to CAFR, Cole Gross (pictured left). He started this journey in December and has put hours of hard work into completing the program. We are incredibly proud of your dedication, hard work, and commitment to serving our community. Welcome to the family!

Also, a big congratulations to Firefighter/Paramedic John Robydek (pictured right) for earning the “Instructor of the Year” award for the academy! This recognition is incredibly well-deserved. Your passion for teaching, unwavering dedication, and commitment to shaping the next generation of firefighters truly makes a difference. We're so grateful for your leadership and the invaluable knowledge you impart.