Notes for the Month!

• Orientation is not currently on the schedule. However, if you know of individuals interested in joining the Task Force, please make sure they submit their applications. It is likely that an orientation meeting will occur before the end of the year.
• The Task Force remains available for occurrences within the State, so it is critical that all members maintain their qualifications. Please check your status on D4H and upload any missing or continuing education documents.

The Task Force is still planning to participate as a Type III team in a multi-team exercise at Muscatatuck in May. The dates on the calendar are May 10-13. While no firm plans are being made at this time, it wouldn’t hurt to check your schedule and pencil in those dates.

Michigan MABAS has started a bi-monthly newsletter. Follow this link for the September issue:  MI-MABAS September 2026 Newsletter

Rescue Training

In August, the Rescue Training included Rescue, HazMat and Medical in confined space work.

Update From Shadd

MI-TF1 members,

Over the past two months, MABAS leadership has remained actively engaged with members of the Michigan Legislature, working in partnership with the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs (MAFC) and State Fire Marshal Tommy Hughes to advance both short- and long-term funding solutions for Michigan Task Force 1 (MI-TF1).

Our discussions with legislators have centered on two parallel strategies. The immediate objective is to restore the annual state appropriation that has historically supported MI-TF1 and its statewide specialized response capability. At the same time, we are working toward development of a sustainable, long-term funding framework that will provide greater stability and establish a legislative structure to preserve these critical capabilities for Michigan’s Fire Service and the communities we serve well into the future.

We are encouraged by the progress of these discussions and anticipate movement toward both objectives. Our current expectation is that efforts to develop and introduce a supplemental funding bill could occur no later than January 2027. While we would certainly welcome a more expedited resolution, the upcoming legislative lame-duck session and the approaching midterm election cycle have presented challenges to moving legislation forward more quickly.

I also want to express our sincere appreciation for the tremendous effort being made by fire departments and fire service leaders across Michigan to communicate with your local legislators—whether through face-to-face meetings, telephone calls, correspondence, or letters of support. Your collective voice has been heard in Lansing.

Those conversations have been instrumental in demonstrating the importance of MI-TF1 to Michigan’s Fire Service and, most importantly, to the communities and local fire departments that rely on this specialized statewide resource when incidents exceed local capabilities. Your advocacy has helped create the foundation for the discussions now taking place regarding both immediate funding restoration and a sustainable long-term solution.

As of October 1, MI-TF1 will not have a fiscal funding component in place and, consequently, will have no operating budget from which to draw. Despite this, we will continue to do everything within our means to keep the Mobilization Center operational—including maintaining essential utilities such as heat and electricity—and, with the support of our Logistics Section, preserve critical fleet and equipment readiness for any response that may be requested. All other non-essential operations, including routine exercises and backfill, will be suspended until further notice. We will, however, make every effort to maintain a training schedule within each section and group, recognizing that member participation may be affected by the current circumstances. The objective will be to sustain a core level of individual and team readiness and preparedness so that MI-TF1 can respond when resources are needed.

We will continue to keep our members and stakeholders informed as these efforts progress and as specific legislative proposals begin to take shape. Should legislation be introduced, we will provide the information necessary to ensure that our collective voice remains coordinated and that departments understand how they can continue to support the effort.

Thank you for your continued work, advocacy, and commitment to MI-TF1’s core mission. The strength of MI-TF1 has always been its members working collectively on behalf of the communities we serve, and this effort is another example of what can be accomplished when we collectively speak with one voice.

Respectfully and with much appreciation.
Shadd

The weather has been unusual to say least and the addition of some major earthquakes has made for an interesting year for disaster situations. It seems that winter here in Michigan could continue to be interesting.
Polar Vortex Meets El Niño

Apparently the movement of the poles can be heard as well as physically tracked.
Noisy Pole Movement

And the tectonic plates of Africa are separating more quickly than anticipated.
Africa Splitting Apart

The off-duty clothing ‘store’ is now open 

You may place your orders here: https://www.customink.com/g/hxk0-00d3-qpuu

Please note – the navy shirts will have gray outlines for the state/logo, but for purposes of making these items available, the items are shown in black.

The store will close on October 31st.

I plan to deliver your order to the Mob Center by December 1st

Are you having trouble accessing the members section of the website?
https://www.mitf1.org/
Contact Joe Chopski at [email protected] for assistance!

If you are on Facebook, be sure to ‘Like” Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System!

Have you joined MI-TF1 private Facebook group yet?  If not, contact Rayanne at [email protected] to be added!