South Haven Area Emergency Services responded to a record number of calls during 2022 while experiencing a reduction in fire losses, according to the department’s annual report. SHAES says for the fifth consecutive year, the number of calls increased from the previous year to a record 2,659. Director Brandon Hinz says the call volume showed increases in the medical area with about 1,900 medical calls in 2022 compared to 1,800 in 2021. Fire alarms decreased from 788 to 757. SHAES says it provided mutual aid to other fire departments and EMS agencies on 143 occasions. Fire losses totaled $846,000, compared to more than $1.5 million in 2021. There were no civilian fire-related deaths in 2022, although there were five incidents in which a responder was injured. SHAES is in its 26th year and serves the city of South Haven and the townships of Casco, Geneva, and South Haven from three stations. You can read its full yearly report online.
