After Action Reports
Incidents in ReviewSummaries of notable 2025 incidents from the Department of Public Safety Annual Report: what crews found, what they did and who helped.
About the After Action Reports
After every significant incident, crews review what happened, what worked and what can be done better. The summaries below are drawn from the after action reports published in the 2025 Department of Public Safety Annual Report.
Most of these calls brought help from neighboring departments, including New Baltimore (NBFD), Selfridge (SFFD), Macomb Township (MTFD), Lenox Township (LTFD), New Haven (NHFD) and Ira Township, along with Medstar Ambulance, DTE Energy and SEMCO Energy.
Residential Structure Fire, Donner Road
Crews arrived to heavy fire at the rear of a single-story home with a report from Chesterfield Police of someone trapped near the front door. Engine 1 laid a supply line, went in on primary search, rescued the victim and handed them to Medstar, then confirmed there was no second victim. New Baltimore established water supply, Selfridge relieved Engine 1 on fire attack, and Macomb and Lenox Township crews helped with hot spots, salvage and overhaul.
Detroit Flood Water Rescue
When a broken 54-inch transmission main flooded a Detroit neighborhood with up to four feet of water, the Southeast Michigan Dive Team requested a boat and three personnel from Chesterfield. The crew was en route within 12 minutes with Utility 3 and Boat 3, and rescued between 35 and 40 people and pets in two passes through more than a square mile and 200 to 300 homes.
Snowmobile Through the Ice, Goulette Point
A snowmobile with two people aboard went through the ice about 100 yards offshore. Battalion 1, Rescue 2 and Engine 1 moved onto the ice with ice rescue crews; both firefighters broke through before reaching the pair and rescued themselves. With no injuries, command kept the two on the floating ice until the Ira Township air boat arrived to bring everyone to shore, where Medstar took over care.
Structure Fire, Hagen Road
Engine 1 arrived to a fully involved house fire with two vehicles burning in the driveway, and used all 750 gallons of its tank water in a blitz attack before starting an interior attack and primary search. With no hydrant nearby, crews moved to a defensive attack until the Water Tender Strike Team re-established water supply, then went back in for secondary search and overhaul. Two occupants were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and the American Red Cross helped the displaced family.
Mobile Home Fire, Au Lac Drive North
Crews were sent for a porch fire with reports that the occupants, two dogs and a cat might still be inside, and found a double-wide mobile home burning throughout. Engine 3 attacked the fire while Rescue 1 laid in from a hydrant, and two hand lines went in for search and fire control. A neighbor confirmed that the family and their pets were out, and the fire was knocked down.
Condominium Garage Fire, S. Jimmy Court
Smoke was showing from a two-story, four-unit condominium. Engine 1 took the front while Truck 3 made entry through the garage door, found and put out the fire, and confirmed there was no extension to the unit above. New Baltimore and Selfridge assisted.
Compressor Room Fire, E. Russell Schmidt
A water flow alarm with light smoke led Engine 1 to two air compressors on fire with the sprinkler system already flowing. The crew put the fire out, Truck 3 supplied water to Engine 1, a second alarm was called, and crews shut down the suppression system and power to the room before turning the building back to the owner.
Outdoor Gas Leak
An excavation crew struck a two-inch gas line a few feet from a two-story apartment building with a basement. Crews evacuated residents, searched the building and measured gas at 13 percent of the lower explosive limit on the second floor. SEMCO stopped the leak, DTE de-energized the service, and crews ventilated the building with positive-pressure fans until every level read clear.
Garage Fire, Berkshire Drive
Heavy fire was showing from the attached garage of a two-story home. Engine 3 stretched a line to the garage and established water supply, Engine 1 and Engine 3 searched the first and second floors, and New Baltimore searched the basement. Selfridge, Macomb and Lenox Township assisted. The occupants were out, and crews stopped minor extension into the second-floor wall.
Motor Home Fire, 26 Mile Road
Battalion 1 arrived to a fully involved motor home threatening a boat and a camper in an area with no hydrants, and activated the Water Tender Task Force. New Haven started suppression, Engine 1 attacked with foam from a hand line, Truck 3 assisted, and Lenox Township handled water supply while Chesterfield DPW pumped out a nearby hydrant. The fire was knocked down quickly.
Outside Fire Spreading to a House, Killewald
A fire at the back of a box truck was spreading to the house when Engine 3 arrived. Crews got the family out, stretched a hand line and knocked the fire down quickly. The homeowner had put freshly raked yard waste in trash cans earlier in the day, a reminder to let yard debris and ashes cool completely before storing them.
Residential Structure Fire, Shady Wood Drive
New Baltimore and Battalion 1 arrived to fire through the roof of a two-story home. Engine 3 began a defensive attack and secured a hydrant, Engine 1 searched the second floor and pulled ceilings to find extension, and Selfridge, Lenox and Macomb Township crews helped with search, fire control and overhaul. The fire inspector stayed on scene with Chesterfield Police until the home was secured.