Detroit Fire Department hosts 2024 Fire Leadership Roundtable for officials from across Metro Detroit and Windsor

• Event designed to build strong partnerships, discuss best practices, encourage regional collaboration in training and resource sharing
• Fire officials from several cities across Metro Detroit joined for the roundtable and tour of DFD’s Regional Training Center

Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms and his leadership team brought together a group of fire officials from across Metro Detroit and Windsor for a Fire Leadership Roundtable Wednesday, September 25, 2024. State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer attended the event, designed as an information-sharing and network engagement opportunity for Fire Chiefs and Directors of Public Safety to collaborate on ideas as well as build strong partnerships.

“This roundtable effectively opened the lines of communication between the Detroit Fire Department and surrounding Fire and Public Safety Departments,” said Commissioner Simms. “As we discussed various topics, one thing was clear, many of the challenges we face are the same, and there is a strong willingness to work together towards solutions.”

Fire and Emergency Medical response requires members to receive the most up-to-date training available to best protect the residents of the City of Detroit. Working in partnership with departments from across Metro Detroit, the Detroit Fire Department was able to share their best practices in training and discuss ideas for regional training opportunities and exercises in Metro Detroit. Several topics were discussed related to training. These include, but are not limited to: Emergency Preparedness, FEMA courses, EV, Lithium-ion battery and Haz Mat response training, high rise, confined space and other specialized training and Homeland Security simulation exercises done in partnership with the Detroit Department of Homeland Security.

“We train to navigate critical incidents from a tornado to a terrorist attack and everything in between,” said Deputy Director of Detroit’s Department of Homeland Security, Hilton Kincaid. “When disaster strikes, you want to have the relationships in place not only with surrounding public safety agencies, but also those in the private sector. We work hard to foster these relationships so we’re ready to act efficiently and effectively in the face of any disaster.”

State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer was on hand for the roundtable and expressed his gratitude to Commissioner Simms for bringing these leaders together. “History was made today. The Detroit Fire Department, under the leadership of Commissioner Simms, has been working towards regional collaboration,” said Sehlmeyer. “It’s one thing to say you’re going to collaborate, today we did. We know it is going to be a regional approach. As the State Fire Marshal, I can say it’s key to have relationships already in place when you reach out for help.”

Also discussed at Wednesday's roundtable were how to best collaborate and build partnerships towards securing regional grants, working together on multi-jurisdictional projects, and resource sharing. How to use new technology, such as drones, in fire prevention and even firefighting, as well as media relations and social media best practices were additional topics of conversation. 

Commissioner Simms highlighted Detroit’s recent announcements of our HEARTSafe Community designation and the launch of the Detroit Opioid Quick Response Team and called on colleagues from across Metro Detroit to consider working towards these initiatives in their own communities.  

“We want surrounding departments to know we are here to work with them,” said Commissioner Simms. “Whether it’s training, grant writing, sharing technology and resources or working together to problem solve, we have an open door and look forward to collaborating with our colleagues across the region.”

The day was capped off with a tour of the Detroit Fire Department’s Regional Training Center, where attendees got to see firsthand how Detroit Fire is at the cutting edge of training in fire and emergency response.

Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee, who is also the President of the Southeastern Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs, attended the roundtable. “This roundtable is a pivotal point at where we can break down some of these imaginary borders between different cities and become more of a regional partnership,” said Menifee. “We’re all facing the same types of issues with training and staffing, and young departments. I’m glad Commissioner Simms brought us together and am looking forward to collaborating with Detroit to see what we can accomplish in the future.”

Fire Chief Joseph Murray of Dearborn, a city which borders Detroit on three sides, attended the roundtable and agreed it was very useful. “Regional collaboration has a lot of benefits for all the departments in the area,” said Murray. “It’s great to have this communication and dialogue and we look forward to working with the City of Detroit as well as our other regional partners.”

Ferndale Fire Chief Teresa Robinson, President of the Southeastern Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs had a lot to add to the conversation. She stated, “The roundtable was a powerful opportunity to collaborate regarding training, issues, challenges and solutions to drive the fire service forward.”

Departments represented at Wednesday’s Fire Leadership Roundtable were:

Allen Park Fire Department
Dearborn Fire Department
Dearborn Heights Fire Department
Ferndale Fire Department
Grosse Pointe Department of Public Safety
Grosse Pointe Shores Department of Public Safety
Grosse Pointe Woods Department of Public Safety
Hamtramck Fire Department
Highland Park Fire Department
Lincoln Park Fire Department
Livonia Fire Department
Southfield Fire Department
Trenton Fire Department
Warren Fire Department
Wayne Fire Department
Windsor Fire Department
Wyandotte Fire Department