Volunteer

PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT

Vandalia, MI · Cass County

PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Volunteer department serving Vandalia, MI (Cass County), with 1 station and 14 total personnel. Full equipment, coverage, and staffing data from HIFLD are below.

14
Total personnel
1
Stations
Fire trucks
No
EMS service
-36%
below MI avg personnel
(22/dept)
7th
percentile by size
of 1,015 MI depts
14
personnel per station
staffing density
$333K
1 FEMA grant
AFG / SAFER

Department Profile

Type
VOLUNTEER
Location
Vandalia, MI
FDID
01411

FEMA Grant History

$333K
Total Funding
1
Awards
Year Award Amount
2023 EMW-2023-FG-03765 $333,337.14

Source: USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER) USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER)

Staffing vs the Michigan average

How PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT's personnel count compares to the typical department in Michigan. It is larger than 7% of the 1,015 reporting departments statewide.

▼ 36% below the state average
Stations
1
State fire deaths/yr
112
MI departments
1,274

What This Data Tells You About PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT

PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT operates as a Volunteer department in Vandalia, within Cass County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 14 total personnel, 1 station, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as not provided, which directly affects how medical calls in the service area are routed and how quickly an advanced life support unit can reach a patient. Department type matters because career, volunteer, and combination organizations carry very different response-time profiles and funding sources.

Benchmarking against the state gives this profile context. Michigan has 1,274 registered fire departments and 28,594 total personnel, averaging roughly 22 staff per department. PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT runs 36% below that state average, signalling a leaner crew typical of smaller jurisdictions or heavily volunteer-staffed areas. The state records about 54,500 fires, 112 fire deaths, and 61% volunteer coverage each year, which shapes training, funding priorities, and mutual-aid patterns felt at every department in the state.

Federal investment further defines this department's trajectory: PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $333,337.14 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff. Residents, insurers, and mutual-aid partners use these data points to judge whether coverage is adequate for the built environment, whether ISO ratings are defensible, and where future capital investment should flow. All figures on this page come from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) public dataset, USFA published statistics, and USAspending.gov, and are presented without editing so the underlying federal record remains transparent and verifiable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many firefighters does PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT have?

PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT has 14 total personnel according to HIFLD data. This is 36% below the Michigan average of 22 per department.

Does PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT provide EMS services?

PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT does not provide EMS. A separate EMS agency likely covers this area.

How many fire stations does PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT operate?

PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT operates 1 fire station.

What type of fire department is PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT?

PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Volunteer department serving Cass County, MI. Volunteer departments rely on community members who serve without full-time compensation.

Has PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT received federal grants?

Yes, PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $333,337.14 through the AFG and SAFER programs. The most recent grant was in fiscal year 2023.

How many fire departments are in Michigan?

Michigan has 1,274 fire departments with 28,594 total personnel. 61% are volunteer departments.

Data from HIFLD Open Data (FEMA/DHS). Not all departments report equally.

Related

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFireData Editorial

Federal data sources

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from FEMA/DHS HIFLD Open Data. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.