News Photo by Julie Riddle An Alpena Fire Department ambulance pauses at a gas station in Alpena on Thursday morning.

ALPENA ― Despite the high fuel prices shrinking residents’ pocketbooks, Northeast Michigan police, fire, and medical responders will still provide full response to crashes, medical calls, fires, or other emergencies, although some local police agencies are asking officers to keep an eye on their miles on the road, public safety leaders say.

With gas prices topping $4 per gallon and not guaranteed a decline any time soon, responders must continue to take their patrol cars, ambulances, and fire engines on the road but can watch for opportunities to minimize fuel consumption, they say.

To keep fuel costs down, police leaders in Presque Isle and Montmorency counties have asked their deputies to spend less time patrolling roads and more time holding still.

Deputies still drive county roads during each shift and, when stationary, will stop in strategic locations in the county to provide visibility and as quick a response as possible, Presque Isle County Sheriff Joe Brewbaker said.

Rogers City police officers are doubling up during shifts to reduce gas use, using only one patrol vehicle to respond to complaints and agency assists, said Police Chief Jamie Meyer.

Montmorency County deputies had to limit gas use years ago during another surge in gas prices, Sheriff Chad Brown said.

The county’s officers are increasing stationary patrols now to conserve budget money for the busier summer months, Brown said.

With most of its road patrol deputies temporarily assigned to work in the Alpena County Jail because of a staff shortage there, the Alpena County Sheriff’s Office has not had to consider any changes because of gas prices, Sheriff Steven Kieliszewski said.

The Alpena Police Department and Alcona County Sheriff’s Office have issued no orders for changes to road patrol because of gas prices.

Michigan State Police gas prices will not rise as high as those at the gas pump for a normal consumer because of a fleet contract with a gas provider, said 1st. Lt. John Grimshaw, commander of the MSP-Alpena Post.

He will not instruct troopers to make any changes to patrol activity because of gas prices, Grimshaw said.

Meanwhile, fire and medical response in Alpena will be business as usual, said Alpena Fire Chief Bill Forbush.

The city paid approximately $14,800 for Alpena Fire Department fuel in 2020 and about $22,000 in 2021. So far, 2022 fuel costs look like they will be similar to 2021, Forbush said.

Fuel costs made up a steeper portion of the department’s budget when it conducted more long-distance transfers. Those trips are now handled by the MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena ambulance service, and the Alpena Fire Department only handles long trips in an emergency, Forbush said.

Regardless of the cost to fill the 80-gallon diesel tanks of the department’s fire engines and 60-gallon ambulance gasoline tanks, he anticipates no change in the number of vehicles sent to any emergency, Forbush said.

At the Alpena Township Fire Department, Chief Mark Hansen requested an increase in the department’s line item for operating expenses to account for 2022’s higher gas prices.

The department fills its vehicles at gas stations around town to spread out the almost $10,000 per year it spends on gas, Hansen said.

He suggested township officials raise the fuel budget by $2,000 in the next budgeting cycle.

In the meantime, higher gas costs might mean he has less to spend on replacement equipment or other expenses.

“Like your personal checkbook at home,” Hansen said, “if you’re paying for something, something else has got to give.”

The township will not change its emergency response, however, he said.

“If they call, we’re coming,” he said.

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693 or jriddle@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jriddleX.