The Chassell Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department handles a wide range of calls, from cliff rescues and ice rescues to water emergencies, car crashes and medical calls. The department serves an area between the Houghton and Baraga-L’Anse population centers.
The Chassell department has responded to emergencies such as a boat stuck on a sandbar and utility lines and trees downed by storms. “Really, any dangerous concerns in the community where people might need help,” said Erik Kocher, vice president of the Chassell Emergency Services Fund. “So things like when we’ve had big storms come through, take down utility lines, take down trees, really whatever we can do to help keep people in the community safe is what we’re out there doing.”
The Chassell ESF has four goals to support emergency services in the community. It plans to buy ice rescue suits, replace firefighters’ turnout gear and purchase a LUCAS chest compression system to improve health call response. Its largest goal is expanding the fire hall to create more training space for volunteers.
Kocher said the fund is pursuing several funding sources. “We’re coming at it from a lot of different angles, whether through grants, fundraising efforts, potential tax base, things like that,” he said. Copper Shores, he added, showed the fund the community’s potential to support a project like this. “We wanted to bring that in as maybe our bigger project focus for Giving Tuesday.”
Copper Shores Community Health Foundation has helped nonprofits across the western Upper Peninsula raise more than $5.8 million over 10 years. The program started with 10 partners in 2016. This year it includes close to 70 causes, ranging from the Chassell ESF to recreation, senior and food access groups.
Growing communities mean more calls for volunteer firefighters. The department responded to 167 calls in 2025 and has handled about 120 calls since January. Kocher estimates about a dozen were full structure fires. Wildland fires are more common. “Early spring, well, I should say late spring, when things dry out right before summer, we’ll see a spike in wildland fires,” Kocher said. “But I think our most steady calls throughout the year are going to be accident calls, especially bad snowstorms and ice on the road.”
Kocher said the department responds to most accidents in Chassell Township and sometimes helps neighboring communities through mutual aid. Crews use hydraulic rescue tools to open cars and free people. The department also responds to medical calls. “So anytime someone dials 911 in Chassell, there’s a very good chance we’re going to be the first ones on scene,” Kocher said.
The department plans to host open houses at the fire hall so residents can see its equipment and the challenges of its current space. It also participates each year in the Strawberry Festival, where it hosts a chicken barbecue fundraiser and marches in the parade with its fire trucks. “We typically march in the parade, bring all the fire trucks out, just to make sure the community is able to see what they’ve been supporting,” Kocher said.
Readers can learn more about the Chassell Emergency Services Fund on their website. They can donate to 2026 causes through the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation Giving Tuesday campaign and follow the Giving Tuesday Spotlight Series from My UP News and the Keweenaw Report.
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