Firefighter Doug Michels has been serving with the Dowagiac Fire Department since 2009.
Prior to that, Doug was a member of the department from about 1988 to 2000. Doug is a Michigan Certified Firefighter II and Fire Officer level II, as well as hazardous materials operations trained, qualified in ice rescue, vehicle extrication and confined space rescue.
Doug is also a CPR and first aid instructor, as well as a licensed emergency medical technician. All of these qualifications account for well more than 1,000 hours of training, plus continued training.
Most recently, Doug, along with the fire department, became qualified in active shooter rescue task force operations.
Doug has been instrumental in helping keep our community a safe place to live and work. For many years, Doug has run the annual Educational Talent Search Junior Fire Academy program, where high school students across Cass County spend a week in Dowagiac working with and learning from firefighters about the science and basic tactics of firefighting suppression operations. This program is an alliance with Southwestern Michigan College.
Doug has been awarded Fireman of The Year on a prior occasion, and last year, Doug earned the prestigious Dowagiac Fire Department Life Saving Award for his efforts and actions which saved the life of a motorcycle accident victim.
Doug is an important and valuable component to the Dowagiac Fire Department team, and is an example of our motto of service with “compassion, pride and professionalism.”
— Guy Evans, deputy fire chief, Dowagiac

Photography by Emily Sobecki