Limited access dune community forum set for June 12

Contributed photo/The scene of Monday afternoon’s fire along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

BENONA TOWNSHIP, Oceana County — Mason-Oceana 911 is hosting a Limited Access Dune Community forum Thursday, June 12, at 10 a.m. at the Little Point Sable Stone Church, 668 S. Stone Church Rd., Shelby.

Limited access dune communities pose a serious challenge to emergency responders who need to gain access to homes for emergencies, such as house fires.

“We just had yet again another house fire out at the lakeshore yesterday in the Bass Lake Outlet area. It all started with dune grass and spread to three or four houses,” said Mason-Oceana 911 Executive Assistant Connie Blaauw.

The annual forum began in 2022 to bring together homeowners/dune association members who live along the lakeshore and are part of a limited access dune community, states press release from Mason-Oceana 911. “Our goal is to discuss and educate the challenges that fire, EMS, law enforcement and 911 have when an emergency occurs in their community.” The meeting site alternates each year between Mason and Oceana counties.

The forum will include at least two guest speakers.

“Communities residing on (and along) Lake Michigan are extremely popular,” states the press release. “Their seclusion, combined with natural beauty and appeal, are unique and are a major draw to our Lake Michigan shorelines. For public safety agencies tasked with responding to emergencies in limited access dune communities, the challenges are fairly common from area to area.

“It is in the spirit of engaging public safety with LADCs in Mason and Oceana counties that we invite you to a forum that will connect the leaders of public safety with the residents of LADCs. The goal is to allow public safety to network and share information of interest with the LADC leaders. It will also allow LADC leaders opportunities for Q&A for the fire, EMS and law enforcement agencies that cover their area.”

Wide-format (36”) maps are available free of charge. If you would like a map of your community, contact Mason-Oceana 911 Deputy Director Todd Myers at tmyers@mason-oceana911.org or call 231-869-7911.

“Do you know a person or community that should be on this list? Please pass this along, or provide us with their e-mail address.” 

RSVP with Connie Blaauw at cblaauw@mason-oceana911.org or call her at 231-869-7911, so organizers can plan for refreshments, seating, etc.

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