The Sterling Heights Fire Department is proud to announce two groundbreaking initiatives designed to improve emergency response, protect public safety, and ensure the wellbeing of our firefighters: the launch of the region’s only EMS Peak Demand Unit and the implementation of Medical Priority Dispatching in partnership with Macomb County COMTEC.
The new Peak Demand Unit began on Sept. 23, 2025 and will operate Tuesday through Friday during daytime hours to help address a sharp increase in emergency calls. Staffed by four newly hired firefighters/EMTs, this ambulance will provide support during the busiest times of the week, ensuring residents receive timely and appropriate care.
“This is the only unit of its kind in Metro Detroit,” said Sterling Heights Fire Chief Kevin Edmond. “It’s a strategic way to meet the increasing demand for emergency services while supporting our frontline firefighters and paramedics. Our goal is simple: get the right resource to the right people at the right time. This unit is a big step toward that.”
The Peak Demand Unit will consist of two Basic Life Support ambulances staffed by the department’s firefighters/EMTs, who work 40 hours per week on essential calls. This innovative approach ensures that residents receive the right level of care without overextending advanced life support crews, helping to reduce staff fatigue.
In addition, Sterling Heights rolled out Medical Priority Dispatching on Oct. 1 in collaboration with COMTEC at Macomb County. Under this system, every 911 medical call will be assessed through a color-coded priority scale – red, blue, orange, yellow, and green – allowing dispatchers to send the most appropriate resources based on urgency and proximity.
- Red/Blue calls: Will receive an engine from the Sterling Heights Fire Department and/or the closest Advanced Life Support unit staffed by paramedics.
- Yellow/Green calls: Will be handled by the Peak Demand Unit’s EMTs, ensuring that advanced resources are preserved for the most critical emergencies.
This forward-thinking deployment strategy comes at a time when communities across the country face recruiting challenges in police and fire services, and when EMS calls are rapidly rising due to an aging population and the expansion of extended care facilities (nursing homes, assisted living and senior communities).
“EMS is the front line of healthcare for so many people now,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor. “Our Fire Department has been planning this for two years, and we’re proud to be the first in the area to launch something this forward-thinking and solidifying Sterling Heights as a leader in public safety.”
A robust quality assurance system will accompany the rollout for both programs, ensuring accountability and efficiency.
“Sterling Heights is leading the way with medical priority dispatching and peak demand deployment,” said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham. “These programs will not only improve service for Sterling Heights residents, they could also serve as a blueprint for other communities across Macomb County, Michigan and beyond.”