Fire-Rescue Operations

About

The Fire Suppression/EMS division is equipped to handle the vast array of emergencies that may arise in the City of Westland.  Our responders operate on a three-shift system to make sure we are fully staffed 24-hours per day. Each shift staffs four strategically placed fire stations, allowing for a rapid response to any location in the City of Westland.

Our firefighters operate four Engines, four ALS transport Rescues, and a Battalion Chief. All units are capable of delivering advanced life support medical care, and our Rescue units transport an average of 8000 patients annually.

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Yearly Fire / Rescue Incident Response Counts

  1. EMS Responses
  2. Fire responses
Year Number of EMS Responses
2022 13057
2021 11710
2020 10995
2019 11691
2018 11473
2017 11646
2016 14301
2015 13877

*2015 and 2016 resulted in increased calls for service from a merger with the Wayne Fire department

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Fire Suppression

Firefighting, while something we strive to reduce the frequency of, remains the foundation of our organization. Protecting the community from the ravages of uncontrolled fire is our top priority. Our firefighters are well trained and well equipped with the latest tools and tactics to make strategically aggressive fire attacks with practices that help us rapidly control structure fires.

All pumper fire apparatus (Engine Companies) are equipped with several hundred gallons of water on-board water and more than enough supply fire hose, to reach any fire hydrant located within the city limits. Fire attack lines are calculated to flow enough water to allow firefighters the ability to feel confident in their decision to be aggressive with their tactics. This ability to deliver higher water flows along with our closely coordinated ventilation skills allows our crews to safely search active fire buildings allowing any victims the most significant opportunity for survival.

The Westland Fire Department has currently agreed to participate in a Central Western Wayne Fire Automatic Aid Program. This program will enhance our current Western Wayne County agreement by effectively sharing resources to make available more firefighters on the scene of a structure fire in the participating communities of Wayne, Westland, Garden City and Inkster.

Emergency Medicine

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Paramedics make up the highest level of pre-hospital care providers. These practitioners extend some of the most crucial capabilities of the hospital emergency department to the field. Paramedics are proficient in monitoring heart rhythms, delivering precise electrical therapy (defibrillation) to patients suffering certain abnormal rhythms, preparing and administering a number of emergency medications and providing more advanced respiratory support. A paramedic's level of expertise in assessing patients is significantly enhanced and a direct radio link to the receiving hospital emergency department provides an opportunity for consultation and direction from emergency medicine physicians.

Technical Rescue & Hazardous Materials Response Team

Shortly after September 11, 2001, Michigan recognized the need to respond to terrorist attacks and the likelihood that weapons of mass destruction (WMD) would be the means and method of affecting far reaching public casualties across our state.  To address these threats, Michigan established a Regional Response Team Network (RRTN), comprised of seventeen hazardous materials team (a.k.a. HazMat Teams).  The HazMat Teams chosen represented the best and the brightest the State of Michigan had to offer, as they had already demonstrated statewide cooperation on hazardous materials spills and releases, as well as providing outstanding resources and support to other emergency response networks.  Westland has three members on the Western Wayne County HazMat team and one member on the State task force team.

Western Wayne County Urban Search and Rescue Team

Westland has three members on the Western Wayne County Urban Search and Rescue Team (WWCUSAR) and one member on the State task force.  The team’s mission is to respond to natural and man-made disasters; to provide search and rescue, medical support, communications, and damage assessment.  Urban search-and-rescue (US&R) involves determining the location, implementing rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of victims being trapped, but victims may also be trapped in transportation accidents and collapsed trenches.