East Lansing Firefighters Master 10+ Rescue Skills

When a kayaker tumbles into the Red Cedar River or an elevator stalls between floors, East Lansing firefighters are ready with skills most people don't even know they have.

John Newman, the city's interim fire chief, has watched his department transform over 25 years. What started as a traditional firefighting force has become a versatile emergency response team trained in everything from confined space rescues to hazmat situations.

Beyond their state firefighter certificates, every East Lansing firefighter earns Emergency Medical Technician certification and a paramedic license. But the training doesn't stop there.

Firefighters can choose specialized rescue skills that match their strengths. Some master trench rescues, others focus on rope rescues or structure collapse scenarios. Newman believes in playing to people's natural abilities rather than forcing everyone into the same mold.

The variety of calls keeps the team on their toes. Newman has overseen multiple elevator rescues where crews secured passengers stuck between floors. Water rescues on the Red Cedar River and Lake Lansing have become regular occurrences.

Because Michigan State University doesn't maintain its own fire department, East Lansing's team protects the entire campus. Firefighters regularly tour university buildings, especially research facilities with chemicals and radiation like the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.

That campus connection proved crucial during the February 13 shooting at MSU. Newman's team had trained for active shooter scenarios for over a decade, preparing for an emergency they hoped would never come. When it did, everyone was ready.

The department recently added portable ventilators to their ambulances, a game changer for transporting patients from ventilatory care facilities while maintaining their respiratory support during emergencies.

Why This Inspires

East Lansing's firefighters face twice as many calls today as they did 25 years ago, but staffing levels have stayed roughly the same. The same dedicated people keep showing up, learning new skills, and protecting their community through increasingly complex emergencies.

Newman sees the real victory in his team's commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Maintaining certifications requires 30 to 80 hours of annual training depending on the specialty, yet firefighters keep pushing forward.

The department's succession planning is strengthening too, ensuring that expertise stays within the team as veteran firefighters mentor newer members.

For Newman, watching his colleagues dedicate themselves to mastering new life saving techniques year after year remains the greatest benefit of leading East Lansing's fire department.