Mount Clemens fire chief outlines safety, injury‑prevention and smoke‑detector outreach; ISO rating could improve with water system work

Mount Clemens — The city’s fire chief delivered a performance and safety report at the work session, outlining policy updates and outreach plans designed to reduce liability and improve community safety.

The chief said the department issued 42 written policies and procedural documents in 2025, implemented a respiratory protection plan, and established a health and safety committee focused on physical and emotional wellness. “We provide NFPA compliant physical examinations on a yearly basis” and have an emphasis on cancer-prevention and early screening for firefighters, the chief said.

The department also launched an in‑house SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) maintenance program by training five staff and building a repair shop at the station. Chief noted the move will reduce recurring contractor costs and could create a modest revenue stream if the city provides inspection services for neighboring departments.

Smoke‑detector outreach and EMS: The chief said smoke detectors are plentiful in multi‑family properties (inspection jurisdiction) but single‑family coverage is hard to quantify; he urged a boots‑on‑the‑ground outreach program distributing detectors at community events and partnering with senior services and Meals on Wheels.

ISO rating and EMS contract: The fire department remains ISO Public Protection Classification 3, which staff described as “excellent” and in the top 10% nationally; the chief said coordinated hydrant testing, flow data and documentation could move the city to Class 2 and lower insurance costs for businesses. He also described a revised EMS contract with MedStar that clarifies a response matrix and reduces fire responses to low‑priority medical calls while maintaining full response capability for life‑threatening emergencies.

Why it matters: The policy, training and equipment changes aim to reduce firefighter injuries, lower workers’ compensation exposure and improve overall emergency response. Commissioners asked about public education and emergency roles for commissioners during major incidents; the chief recommended baseline incident command system training for elected officials.

Next steps: The chief will expand community outreach for smoke detectors and continue quarterly quality improvement meetings with the EMS provider. No formal vote was required.