Zeeland Township Firefighter Mike Van Haitsma retired after 34 years with the department. Van Haitsma is flanked by Chief Brock Bruce (left) and Deputy Chief Josh West (right).
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Township Fire Department responded to a record number of calls during 2025, according to the department’s annual report.
Township firefighters responded to 1,003 calls last year, a 20.8 percent increase from 2024, when the department received 830 calls, Fire Chief Brock Bruce wrote in the report.
“This increase reflects the continued growth of service demand within the township and the dedication of our personnel to meeting those needs,” Bruce wrote.
Rescue and emergency medical service incidents accounted for the vast majority of calls for the year – 62.5 percent in total. Service-related calls made up another 11.9 percent, while fire incidents accounted for 6.3 percent of calls, the report said.
The department at its annual banquet in December honored three retiring firefighters – Mike Van Haitsma, who served for 34 years in the department; Capt. Ken Hulst, who served the department for 25 years; and Tyler Miller, who retired after nine years.
“Each of these individuals served as dedicated firefighters and represented Zeeland Township with professionalism and integrity,” Bruce wrote. “Their contributions over the years have had a lasting impact on the department and the community. While they will be missed, the department is grateful for the many years of service they gave in support of others.”
Bruce presented a Life Saver Award to firefighters who successful resuscitated a 17-year-old boy using CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) device: Deputy Chief Josh West, Lt. Jason Hunderman, Lt. Jamie Nykamp, Nadine Boven, John Pluger, Harvey Lemmer, Gerrit Gritters, Dan Lubbers and Ben Bombers.
The department recognized Grant Wiler as its Firefighter Responder of the Year for responding to the highest number of fire-related calls last year, and John Pluger as its EMS Responder of the Year for responding to the highest number of EMS calls for the year.
The department has added three new recruits that have started Fire Academy training: father and son Paul and Andrew Bush, and Marina DeVries.
The department also presented years of service awards to the following department members:
• Capt. Ken Hulst – 25 Years
• Lt. Matt Westrate – 20 Years
• Stacey Pluger – 20 Years
• Capt. Adam Steere – 15 Years
• Mark Kraak – 10 Years
• Lt. Jamie Nykamp – 5 Years
• Brandon Holmes – 5 Years
“It is evident through all of the effort, time, commitment, dedication, and hard work demonstrated by this team that the Zeeland Township Fire Department did not simply work through just the length of 2025 — each member worked the true width of it as well,” Bruce wrote in concluding the report.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Township Fire Department responded to a record number of calls during 2025, according to the department’s annual report.
Township firefighters responded to 1,003 calls last year, a 20.8 percent increase from 2024, when the department received 830 calls, Fire Chief Brock Bruce wrote in the report.
“This increase reflects the continued growth of service demand within the township and the dedication of our personnel to meeting those needs,” Bruce wrote.
Rescue and emergency medical service incidents accounted for the vast majority of calls for the year – 62.5 percent in total. Service-related calls made up another 11.9 percent, while fire incidents accounted for 6.3 percent of calls, the report said.
The department at its annual banquet in December honored three retiring firefighters – Mike Van Haitsma, who served for 34 years in the department; Capt. Ken Hulst, who served the department for 25 years; and Tyler Miller, who retired after nine years.
“Each of these individuals served as dedicated firefighters and represented Zeeland Township with professionalism and integrity,” Bruce wrote. “Their contributions over the years have had a lasting impact on the department and the community. While they will be missed, the department is grateful for the many years of service they gave in support of others.”
Bruce presented a Life Saver Award to firefighters who successful resuscitated a 17-year-old boy using CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) device: Deputy Chief Josh West, Lt. Jason Hunderman, Lt. Jamie Nykamp, Nadine Boven, John Pluger, Harvey Lemmer, Gerrit Gritters, Dan Lubbers and Ben Bombers.
The department recognized Grant Wiler as its Firefighter Responder of the Year for responding to the highest number of fire-related calls last year, and John Pluger as its EMS Responder of the Year for responding to the highest number of EMS calls for the year.
The department has added three new recruits that have started Fire Academy training: father and son Paul and Andrew Bush, and Marina DeVries.
The department also presented years of service awards to the following department members:
• Capt. Ken Hulst – 25 Years
• Lt. Matt Westrate – 20 Years
• Stacey Pluger – 20 Years
• Capt. Adam Steere – 15 Years
• Mark Kraak – 10 Years
• Lt. Jamie Nykamp – 5 Years
• Brandon Holmes – 5 Years
“It is evident through all of the effort, time, commitment, dedication, and hard work demonstrated by this team that the Zeeland Township Fire Department did not simply work through just the length of 2025 — each member worked the true width of it as well,” Bruce wrote in concluding the report.
Capt. Ken Hulst retired after 25 years with the Zeeland Township Fire Department. Hulst is pictured with his wife, Mindy, as well as Chief Brock Bruce (left) and Deputy Chief Josh West (right).
Zeeland Township Firefighter Tyler Miller retired after nine years with the department. Miller is flanked by Chief Brock Bruce (left) and Deputy Chief Josh West (right).
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