Ever since the South Haven and Casco Fire Departments evolved into the creation of the modern day South Haven Area Emergency Services team, a Warner Brothers cartoon character has been along for the ride…and that tradition has continued with his depiction on the department’s newest acquisition of their new Rescue One vehicle. 
The department is steeped in tradition in multiple ways, but one of the most visible is the inclusion of Looney Tunes character Yosemite Sam displayed prominently for a quarter of a century now.
The attention-getting depiction of the Yosemite Sam caricature now appears on the department’s new heavy duty rescue truck which was delivered in recent days.
The tradition started at the time of the creation of the South Haven Area Emergency Services Authority 25 years ago. Randy Van Wynen, the Chief at that time, and colleagues Keith Bierhalter and Tony Marsala selected Yosemite Sam, and the department secured permission from Warner Brothers to display him for non-commercial purposes.
Current Chief Brandon Hinz says, “It’s a great tradition that brings smiles to not only the public, but our responders as they go about the serious business of protecting the community.”
Working with Bierhalter and Firefighter Brian Montgomery, Paul Russell from Spencer Manufacturing of South Haven created the caricature on the new Rescue One.
Each Yosemite Sam depicts the purpose of the truck. Tanker trucks show him carrying buckets of water. On the engines he is wielding a hose and axe. A shovel and axe are in his hands on grass rigs, and the new Rescue One shows Sam holding the Jaws-of-Life extrication tool and a haligan tool.
Earlier this year the department unveiled large murals on two trucks, featuring an eagle and the American flag, as they proudly go about their duties of protection Michigan’s Great Southwest.
The photos accompanying this story on Moody on the Market are courtesy of Professional Photographer Tom Renner from South Haven.
