Safety Education and Community Programs

Public Education

Firefighters play an active role in educating the public about recognized safety practices.

For information about any of the following programs, please contact the Fire Prevention Division at (248) 871-2820:

• Fire station tours.
• Fire safety training for home and business owners.
• Elementary school safety programs.
• Preschool safety programs.
• Kitchen fire safety.
• Participation in neighborhood events.

Fire Prevention Open House

Thousands of residents participate in Farmington Hills Annual Open House. It’s the  perfect opportunity to meet the City’s firefighters, learn how to protect your family from the hazards of fire, get valuable tips for preventing injuries, and learn about the many services provided by the Fire Department.

Smoke Alarm Installations

If you are homeowner in Farmington Hills, firefighters can visit your home to check your smoke alarm(s) and provide information on a replacement if necessary. Home fire and safety inspections are also offered.  Often, the Fire Department is involved in programs that can provide smoke alarms at no cost to residents. For more information or to request an inspection, please call the Fire Prevention Division at (248) 871-2820.

The Farmington Hills firefighters want to remind you to take a quick minute to ensure you and your family is protected in case of a fire:

• Test your smoke alarm(s) monthly.
• Ensure your smoke alarm(s) is/are less than 10 years old (if there is no manufacturer date, your smoke alarm(s) is/are older than 10 years and require immediate replacement).
• If your 9v smoke alarms are 10 years or older the Farmington Hills Fire Department recommends replacing them with a 10-year lithium battery smoke alarm. The cost difference will be more then paid off over the life of the alarm and there is no maintenance other than testing the alarm monthly.
• Change your clocks; change your smoke alarm batteries.
• Practice your escape drill (EDITH - Exit Drills In The Home).

For additional information, please contact the Fire Prevention Division at (248) 871-2820.
 

Safety Car Seat Inspections

If you’re a resident of Farmington Hills, the Fire Department’s nationally certified child safety seat technicians will inspect your child car seats for proper installation and possible product recall. Child safety seat technicians are also available to participate in community events. For more information, or to schedule an appointment (Saturdays every other month), contact the Department at (248) 871-2800.

Recreational Fires, Yard Waste, and The Open Burning Ordinance

Spending time with friends and family around a recreational fire is a great way to enjoy our time outdoors. If you choose to engage in this activity, the Farmington Hills Fire Department would like for you to do so in a safe manner. The City of Farmington Hills Fire Prevention Ordinance allows for small recreational fires at single-family homes only. These recreational fires must be contained in a semi-enclosed device approved for burning, and only seasoned firewood can be used.
 
All fires are required to be constantly attended and a way to extinguish the fire must be available for immediate use. These fires must be located a safe distance from any structure to prevent the spread of fire. When you are done with the fire, ensure that the fire is completely extinguished and that extinguished coals are stored inside of a metal can outside of the home.

No yard waste, refuse, or construction materials can be burned. If the Fire Department does respond to your home for an open burn, you may be ticketed or you may receive a cost recovery invoice from the Fire Department for a fire truck and firefighters responding to your violation. So, you’ll have to bag your refuse in approved yard waste bags or cans marked with a yard waste sticker and set it out for garbage pickup on your regular collection date.

Our open burn ordinance can be found in Section 12-14 of the City Code of Ordinances. There is more information available regarding permit required fires and guidelines for multi-family dwellings (apartments, condominiums, etc.). Please follow the link below to access this information:
City of Farmington Hills Code of Ordinances- Fire Prevention. 

Fire Safety Training for Homeowners

If you are a resident of Farmington Hills, we encourage all to take an active interest in your family’s fire safety. If you are in need of any assistance, firefighters can visit your home to check your smoke alarm(s) and provide information on a replacement if necessary. Home fire and safety inspections are also offered. To request an inspection, please contact the Fire Prevention Division at (248) 871-2820.

PLEASE NOTE THAT CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTION IS RECOMMENDED FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS

(C.O. is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Detection is a must) Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. If a CO alarm sounds, immediately leave the building and call 911. The Fire Department will respond and evaluate the situation.

Often, the Fire Department is involved in programs that can provide carbon monoxide alarms at no cost to our residents. For additional information, please contact the Fire Prevention Division at (248) 871-2820.

Business Owners

The safety for your business, employees, fellow citizens, and its clients are of high importance and concern to your fire department. There are many tools that can be offered to educate business owners and their employees regarding fire safety. In addition to Fire Life Safety and Code Inspections, as requested, we offer Public Education visits to address specific fire and life safety topics as related to our business owners.

Fire Station Tours

This is your fire department. We welcome you and encourage visits to any of our fire stations. The firefighters are delighted to show off our beautiful fire houses and state of the art equipment that we utilize to save lives and do our jobs.

Preschool and Elementary School Fire Safety Programs and Education

The education of our children for fire safety is of utmost importance. We are actively involved with providing age appropriate education for our children from preschool ages through elementary school. From time to time we do provide education for older age children as requested or needed. As a result of the school program delivered throughout Farmington Hills, there have been documented accounts of children taking action to save lives. This has been directly linked to the education that is provided through our Fall Assembly School Program.

EDUCATION

Ensuring that fire safety education is provided to children is paramount. We actively engage in providing age-appropriate education for children ranging from preschool to elementary school ages. Additionally, we offer education for older children as requested or needed. The school program delivered throughout Farmington Hills has yielded documented instances of children taking life-saving actions directly linked to the education provided during the Fire Department’s Fall Assembly School Program.

Participation in Neighborhood Events

As active members of the community and our involvement in neighborhood events, the Fire Department makes regular visits as requested throughout the City. The goal is to allow the community to get to know its firefighters in a non-emergent fashion. This is especially valuable for young children.