Frequently Asked Questions

Smart911 allows citizens to create a Safety Profile at https://www.smart911.com/ for their household that includes any information they want 9-1-1 and response teams to have in the event of an emergency. When a citizen makes an emergency call, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, allowing them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information. Responders can be aware of many details they would not have known previously, and now fire crews can arrive at a house fire knowing how many people live in the home and the location of bedrooms, EMS can be advised of allergies or specific medical conditions and police can have the photo of a missing child in seconds rather than minutes or hours. Smart911 also has a mobile app available for both Android and Apple.

No, you do not need a permit for a small campfire in the backyard. You can only burn clean wood; no brush,trash, or yard waste permitted.

Burning yard waste such as leaves, grass and twigs is not permitted for many reasons, as the smoke poses a threat to human health in high density suburban neighborhoods. Persons burning yard waste will be asked to put the fire out and will be cited. We only allow burning in certain zoning districts, and only if the property owner has a burn permit. Composting is a better option, as it returns helpful nutrients to the soil. If you don't know if you are eligible to receive a burning permit, please contact the township offices at 616-457-2340 or email contact@georgetown-mi.gov

We allow homeowners to burn brush or yard waste only in certain zoning districts and only if you have a burning permit. Just because you are not in a subdivision, that does not mean you have the appropriate zoning for a burn permit.

Burn permits can be obtained from the township office if you are eligible. You must call the Township offices BEFORE you burn so we can inform Ottawa County Central Dispatch. If you plan to burn on a weekend, you must call us during office hours during the week. If the fire department is called due to excessive smoke or interference with neighbors you may be asked to put the fire out.

The Michigan Fireworks Safety Act allows the discharge of consumer fireworks on the following days:

• December 31, after 11 AM and until 1 AM on January 1
• The Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Memorial Day, after 11 AM and until 11:45 PM on each of those days.
• On June 29 to July 4, after 11 AM and until 11:45 PM on each of those days.
• If July 5 is a Friday or Saturday, fireworks are allowed on July 5 after 11 AM and until 11:45 PM
• On the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Labor Day, after 11 AM and until 11:45 PM on each of those days.

We do not check car seats at any Georgetown fire station. We recommend you contact your pediatrician's office or local children's hospitals for resources about car seat safety.

We are always willing to look at qualified individuals that would like to join our team. Click here to view more information on what is required of a firefighter. If you have further questions please contact the fire chief.

Call the main office 8 AM - 5 PM Monday - Friday. (616)457-2340. After hours call the non-emergency number for Ottawa County Central Dispatch at 1-800-249-0911.

Yes all smoke detectors have batteries. Most smoke detectors have a standard 9 volt battery including detectors that are wired to power all the time. These wired detectors need a battery in case of a power outage. You should change the batteries every 6 months.

When should you use the toll free non-emergency number 1-800-249-0911?

The non-emergency number is to assist the public when the use of 911 is not an urgent request or life and property are not in danger. The non-emergency number is toll free, and answered twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Call 1-800-249-0911 when there is no immediate danger to life or property.

Examples: Animal Control calls (no threat to public safety), miscellaneous crimes, any type of incident that has occurred at an earlier time/date that needs a police investigation and/or a report, miscellaneous calls for service where police or fire assistance would be helpful, or informational requests related to police or fire activity.

When the fire department responds to a given location, we may be delayed in arriving if the address is not clearly seen from the street. Although it's fairly easy to spot a column of smoke from a house fire, it's difficult to see someone's heart attack from the street. In a medical emergency, firefighters may waste critical time having to knock on several doors to try and find a correct address. Make sure your address is clearly visible from the street. The numbers should be four inches in height and be reflective.

This problem is compounded in large condominium and apartment complexes; both are huge residential facilities with many buildings. Make sure large identification lettering or numbering is mounted on the side of the building. This is as important as the street address. It would be even better if someone could be standing near the street to direct the fire units to the appropriate apartment.

The Georgetown Fire Department does not service or dispose of extinguishers. We recommend taking empty fire extinguishers to a hazardous waste recycling facility (like Ottawa County's Hazardous Waste and Recycling facility on Roger Dr in Hudsonville). Fire protections companies who perform fire safety inspections for commercial properties may also take empty fire extinguishers or have resources for repairing broken fire extinguishers.

You will fill out this form, at least two weeks in advance to request the Fire Department attend your event: https://www.gtwp.com/formcenter/fire-department-9/schedule-a-fire-prevention-event-76

Fire Department units are dispatched according to information received by the 911 operator. The Georgetown Fire Department is prepared to deal with the worst that could happen at any given incident. A computer selects the closest unit to respond to an incident. The fire department's philosophy is to get our firefighters there as soon as possible. 

In preparation for the worst case scenario, an ambulance often is dispatched as well. There may be three or more fire department vehicles on the scene for what appears to be a "simple" incident. However, in emergency services we have learned that if we assume something is "simple," we can be horribly mistaken. Plus, we respond as fast as we can and are prepared to encounter the worst. The winner in these situations will always be the citizen who needs help.

Our services are paid through taxes collected by Georgetown Township. Therefore,Georgetown township residents are not charged for fire protection or medical services. If you require emergency transportation via ambulance or helicopter those entities will charge for the services they render.

No, we do not rescue cats from trees.