Emergency? Call 911 Not an emergency? info@sjctfd.org Member portal
St. Joseph Charter Township Fire Department
Squad-181 parked in front of Station #1

St. Joseph Charter Township · Est. 1951

Readywhen you call.

Your neighbors at Station #1 have protected St. Joseph Charter Township for 75 years. Find today's burn status, safety information and the services we offer.

Resident services Join the crew
Open burning right nowBurning OKConditions are within safe limits. Fires larger than 3 feet need a permit.
  • Up to 3 ft no permit
  • Over 3 ft permit required
  • Never leaves, trash, treated wood
Rules & permits
Station 181 weather Live Updated
38°F
Calm
Last 12 hours38° – 53°
NE SW 0 mph

CalmNo gusts

Humidity
Rain today
0.00 in
Pressure
30.45 in ↑
Lightning
None in the last hour
No active weather alerts for our area
133calls answered in 2026
75years serving the township
What we get called for

How can we help?

Here for the township

The things residents ask us about most. More services will be available online soon.

01

Open burning

Today's status, the rules, and what to do before you light a fire.

Check status 02

Pool fills

How to ask the department about filling a residential pool.

Learn more 03

Fire safety

Smoke and CO alarms, escape plans, and seasonal safety tips.

Stay safe 04

Contact us

Non-emergency questions, station visits and department business.

Get in touch

Mark your calendar

Next event

All events
Oct17

Lowe’s

Saturday, October 17, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Fire Prevention at the Loews store. Come see the Fire Trucks.

Add to my calendar

Safety spotlight

Stay safe this season

All safety tips

Carbon monoxide: the invisible danger

Carbon monoxide (CO) has no color and no smell.

Read more

Chimneys and wood stoves

Creosote builds up inside chimneys and can ignite.

Read more

Open burning: check first

Spring and fall bring the most grass and brush fires.

Read more
75

Years of service

Our heritage

Neighbors protecting neighbors

  1. 1951 Station #1 is chartered on May 14, 1951.
  2. 1967–2005 Chief Fred Beckman leads the department for nearly four decades.
  3. Today Chief Jim Robinson leads Station #1, a 36-year veteran of the department.
Our department

By the numbers

Calls for service

What the township calls us for, counted from our own run records. Numbers only — we never publish details of an incident or anyone involved in one.

133calls for service in 2026
  • Fire or CO alarm36
  • Hazard call34
  • Investigation16
  • Structure fire10
  • Crash, injuries unknown8
  • Manpower assist8
  • Crash with injuries5
  • Grass or brush fire5
  • Vehicle fire4
  • Utility problem3
  • Crash, rollover2
  • Assist another agency1
  • Other1

Through October 17, 2026. Counts only — no incident details are published.

Apparatus

On the apparatus floor

The trucks and equipment that answer calls across St. Joseph Charter Township.

Squad-181

Unit 1822

Squad-181

Pumper-rescue. Our newest apparatus.

In service since February 17, 2022

Engine-181

Unit 1821

Engine-181

Pumper.

In service since July 2, 2012

Brush-181

Unit 1865

Brush-181

Grass and brush fires.

In service since 1997

Support-181

Unit 1875

Support-181

Rescue and support equipment.

Photos by former Assistant Chief Gerry Kabelman. Fleet history

Latest

Department news

All news

Our new website is here

A new home for township fire safety information, burn status and department news. Online services are on the way.

Now accepting applications

Answer the call.

Serve the community you live in. We train you, equip you and stand beside you.

Become a firefighter

  • Weekly training at Station #1
  • State certification training
  • A crew that has your back
How to apply