Fire department explains why Sleeping Bear Dunes rescues aren’t free

GLEN ARBOR TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A northern Michigan fire department took the time to explain why people who are rescued from the Sleeping Bear Dunes area have to pay a fee.

The Glen Lake Fire Department (L5086) said signs at the top of Pyramid Point and two overlooks are gaining attention on social media and they wanted to explain why people who are rescued have to pay.

• The signs read: “Warning. Avoid getting stuck at the bottom! Lake levels are high. The only way out is up. Rescues cost $3,000. Keep yourself and our rescuers out of danger.”

The rescues are a coordinated effort between the National Parks Service and the Glen Lake Fire Department. To complete a rescue, it takes all on-duty personnel from both stations and several NPS rangers. During a rescue, the fire department needs mutual aid from other areas to respond if other emergencies come up.

One of the reasons for rescue charges are “to reduce responses to this location so we can adequately provide services to those who pay for them.” Another reason is that the equipment needed for the rescues is expensive and the sand is hard on the equipment, according to the fire department.

“Rescue rope is routinely left in disrepair following a complex sand dune operation. This is the other reason for a rescue charge,” the department said.

• Pro tip from the fire department: If you find yourself at the bottom of the #9 Lake Michigan Overlook or the #10 Sleeping Bear Dune Overlook you should arrange a ride and take a short half-mile walk south to the North Bar Lake Access point.

The department said they’ve had to rescue significantly fewer people since signs were put up warning people that they will be charged for a rescue.

“Since putting these signs in place rescues at this location have gone from a daily occurrence during the summer months to less than a weekly occurrence. This summer we have responded to the #9 and #10 overlooks only eight times with half of those responses involving rescues,” the department said.

Rescue service charges

There are three levels of rescue charge. The charges are based on the complexity of the rescue.

The department shared a photo of a charging fee sheet on social media that included the following information:

• $675 - Basic rescue and/or removal: The removal of a subject or patient from a remote location without advanced skills or equipment. This includes: Initial response team of four personnel providing assessment, general assistance, and providing off-road vehicle transportation.
• $1,350 - Specialized rescue: The removal of a subject or patient which may require any part(s) of the following: utilization of ropes, rigging, or specialized techniques to remove a subject or patient. This may also include: initial or secondary response team of more than six personnel providing coordinated single off-road search and rescue, specialized rescue (including ropes, litters, and associated rescue and safety equipment), off-road medical transportation to EMS staging area.
• $2,700 - Advanced technical rescue: The removal of a subject or patient which may require any of the following: Initial or secondary response teams of > 6 personnel providing coordinated multi off-road search and rescue, advanced technical rescue (shoring, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric tools or other associated technical rescue and safety equipment), advanced assessment and command, off-road medical transport to an EMS staging area.