South Haven’s first career female firefighter has retired after a 21-year career. Dawn Hinz served seven years with the Covert Fire Department and the past 14 years with South Haven Area Emergency Services. Executive director Brandon Hinz says his wife left a positive impact on the department and proved conventional wisdom that women weren’t strong or tough enough to serve was wrong. He says all women hired since Dawn have continued her attitude. Hinz will stay on SHAES as a paid on-call firefighter. She will also continue her affiliation with Athletic Mentors of Kalamazoo, a corporate wellness and coached gym that inspires healthy living no matter an individual’s current fitness ability. Additionally, Athletic Mentors coaches and manages cycling and multi-sport teams with a youth development focus. The Hinz family lives in Geneva Township on a farm.
