Communications

Our Communications Center has a total of 30 highly trained licensed Public Safety Emergency Medical Technicians and Medical First Responders Fire/EMS Dispatchers who operate the Center 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year dispatching Fire & EMS Responders and resources to emergencies received from the calling public.

The mission of the Detroit Fire Department Communications Division is to provide the citizens of Detroit with world class fire department communications relating to the dispatch and follow-up of the appropriate Fire Department resources necessary for the protection of life and property as it relates to the use of fire, medical and rescue response.

When reporting a medical emergency, remain calm and provide the 911 operator with the following:

• What is the address of the emergency?
• What is the phone number you are calling from?
• Tell them exactly what is happening
• They will ask if you are with the patient
• They will ask how many other people are hurt/sick
• They will ask if the patient is breathing or coughing
• They will ask how old the patient is
• They will ask if the patient is awake or unconscious

When reporting a fire, please provide the dispatcher with the following:

• What is the address of the fire?
• What is the phone number you’re calling from?
• What is your name?
• They will ask exactly what happened
• They will ask what type of building or structure is involved.
• They will ask if you are at the location now.

When reporting a vehicle accident:

• The operator will ask if anyone is trapped
• They will ask if there are any injuries, if so, how many?
• In the event a vehicle is trapped in flood water:
  • They will ask if the water is moving or getting deeper inside the vehicle.