Fire
The Rochester Hills Fire Department is an all-hazards fire, rescue, and emergency medical service (EMS) department. The Rochester Hills Fire Department has 47 fulltime firefighters that also hold either a paramedic or basic EMT license, 7 full time Community Risk Reduction Division personnel, 4 Command Staff, and 3 support staff. A minimum of two personnel are available at any time of the day or night and staff one of the five fire stations within the city. Each station is equipped with an Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance and a medically licensed fire apparatus. A crew will use either the medical or fire unit depending on the type of call they are responding to.
Types of Service
The Rochester Hills Fire Department provides many types of service to include:
- Firefighting
- Emergency Medical Services
- Vehicle Accident Response and Extrication
- Hazardous Materials Response
- Swift Water Rescue
- Ice Water Rescue
- High / Low Angle Rope Rescue
- Building Collapse Response
- Trench Collapse Response
- Search & Rescue
Each of the fire stations is strategically located throughout the City to provide the fastest, and most efficient service to residents. In 2016, the Rochester Hills Fire Department finished some much needed renovations at each of the five fire stations. The renovations occurred simultaneously at all stations and included updating sleeping areas, kitchens, locker rooms (to create separate men’s and women’s facilities), workout facilities, training facilities, and apparatus areas. Prior to the renovations, two of the five stations had makeshift sleeping quarters and two others lacked sleeping quarters entirely; three of the stations had a shared locker room / shower area. The firefighters now have a functional space that is capable of adapting to future changes.
Station 1 – Headquarters (center of the city)
This station houses the administrative office. The office is open Monday – Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, excluding holidays. The administrative contains offices for the Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief / Fire Marshal, Assistant Fire Marshal, EMS Coordinator, Training Health and Safety Officer, Fire Inspectors, and the Fire and Life Safety Educator. This station houses 2-4 suppression personnel and the Battalion Chief. This station houses Alpha 21, Engine 1, Ladder 1, Bravo 20, Rescue 1, and the gator. Rescue 1 holds heavy rescue equipment along with extra extrication tools. The gator is used for rescue on the many trails and parks throughout the city, where an ambulance is unable to drive the terrain. Station 1 is also the summer home of the public education smoke house and the grass fire truck. 
Station 2 – Brooklands (southeast corner of the city)
This station houses two suppression personnel. This station houses Alpha 22, Engine Co. 2, Ladder Co. 2, and the swift water rescue boat.
Station 3 – Avondale (southwest corner of the city)
This station houses two to four suppression personnel. This station houses Alpha 23 and Ladder Co. 3. 
Station 4 – Meadowbrook (northwest corner of the city)
This station houses two suppression personnel. This station houses Alpha 24, Tower Ladder Co. 4, and Engine Co. 4. Station 4 is also the winter home for the public education smoke house.
Station 5 – Stoney Creek (northeast corner of the city)
This station houses two suppression personnel. This station houses Alpha 25, Engine Co. 5, and Tanker 5. The tanker assists with fires in areas that do not have fire hydrants as well as neighboring communities that lack hydrants.
You may see a vehicle from another city assisting on an emergency. The Rochester Hills Fire Department partners with local fire departments during emergencies to increase the available number of personnel on a scene and also to provide coverage for the city during large or long incidents. Some of this assistance is provided through mutual aid agreements and automatic aid. If you see a vehicle from Rochester City, Oakland Township, Auburn Hills, or any other department, don’t worry! Many hands make light work and sometimes we need more people on scene to handle an emergency.
Rochester Hills is part of a group of Oakland County fire departments called OAKWAY. The OAKWAY group is a collaboration between Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Madison Heights, Royal Oak, Southfield, Waterford Regional Fire Department, West Bloomfield, Southfield, Rochester Hills, and Farmington Hills. Being a member of OAKWAY provides a large group of shared resources for personnel, vehicles, and training opportunities.
ISO Information
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) is a group that rates fire departments across the country in their ability to protect the community and then provides a Public Protection Classification (PPC) on a 1 to 10 scale; the lower the number, the higher the classification. The PPC rating is based on several areas that include Emergency Communication Systems, Fire Departments / Personnel / Capabilities / Training / Equipment, Water Supply, and Community Risk Reduction.
In 2018, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was evaluated by the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) and went from a class 4 rating to a class 2 rating. The Rochester Hills Fire Department strives to provide superior services to the community and all members put forth a fantastic effort in improving all areas of service to improve our rating. At the time of our class rating, we were one of only 8 other departments with a class 2 rating. Currently, in 2021, there are 17 fire departments in Michigan with a class 2 rating, putting Rochester Hills in the top 1.2% of fire departments in the state and top 5.5% in the country.
Monthly and Annual Reports
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