To become a firefighter, you must:

• Have a Paramedic license 
• Have Firefighter I and II certification
• Be 18 years of age or older
• Pass a physical agility examination
• Pass a written and oral examination

Yes. Ferndale was one of the first departments in Metro Detroit to institute a free smoke alarm program. To be eligible, you must:

• Reside in Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, or the Charter Township of Royal Oak
• Meet income requirements, be classified as handicapped, or be a senior citizen over the age of 55

Once approved, a Ferndale firefighter will complete the installation for you.

If you are interested in this program, contact the Fire Department at 248-546-2510.

The State of Michigan requires booster seat use for all children who are between the ages of four and eight, and/or are less than 4'9'' in height.

If you have questions or wish to receive a child safety seat demonstration, email carseat@ferndalefirerescue.org.

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and the Hurley Medical Center in Flint offers the Straight Talk program. This is a daylong family-oriented program that helps youth ages 8-17 gain a clearer understanding of burn injuries. The goal of the program is to modify high-risk behavior and reduce the recurrence rate of adolescent fire experimentation.

For more information, contact the Ferndale fire marshal at 248-546-4131 Ext. 302.

Ferndale Fire Marshall:
Dennis Barr
248-546-4131 Ext. 302

Fire Marshal Barr often speaks to community and school groups about fire safety, seasonal safety precautions, and Fire Prevention Week.

In the event of a declared emergency or any event that may adversely affect the residents of Ferndale, the Resident Emergency Communication Action Plan (RECAP) will post emergency updates at:

• www.ferndalemi.gov
• WFRN
• Channel 10 on WOW
• Channel 17 on Comcast
• Channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse
• Social Media: Facebook and Twitter
• All voting precincts — RECAP attempts to post hard-copy notices at each precinct so residents can "get your note where you vote."