The Sterling Heights Fire Fighters Union is Local 1557 of the Internation Association of Fire Fighters, affiliated with the AFL-CIO CLC.  The International Association of Fire Fighters represents more than 287,000 full time professional fire fighters across the United States, Canada, and recently have welcomed our Brothers and Sisters in Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.  Local 1557 is in the 8th District of the IAFF, which consists of our Brothers and Sisters in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.

The Sterling Heights Fire Fighters are also a member of the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union, which represents more than 5,700 full time professional fire fighters in the State of Michigan.  Local 1557 is in the 6th District of the MPFFU, which covers Locals in Macomb and Oakland Counties. 

The Sterling Heights Fire Fighters Union consists of 84 members.  We are the professional fire fighters protecting the City of Sterling Heights 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  The Sterling Heights Fire Department's 84 members are divided into three divisions:  Fire Prevention, Training, and Extinguishment. 

Fire Prevention Division

The Fire Prevention Division consists of the Fire Marshal, three Fire Inspectors and a Fire Prevention Specialist  Their duties are to routinely inspect all buildings in the city including all new construction.  The Fire Marshal and Inspectors inspect all hazardous sites, investigate all fires, investigate and testify in arson cases, and are instrumental in coordinating and delivering the department's public education program. 

Training Division

The Training Division consists of three positions: the Chief of Training, the Emergency Medical Services Coordinator, and the Training Officer.  The Training Division has many different responsibilities ranging from the training of our Hazardous Materials Response Team, continuing education to keep our Paramedic licenses up to date, rescue training for ice, water, self rescue, vehicle extrication, to fire training which includes fire attack, tactics, ventilation, and much more.   

Extinguishment Division

The Extinguishment Division is the largest of the three divisions with 75 fire fighters.  Three Battalion Chiefs are each in charge of one battalion of 25 personnel.  The Battalions rotate work days, so each day 25 personnel are spread across the city in five different fire stations.  These 25 men and women serve the City of Sterling Heights by responding to all 911 calls.  These calls routinely consist of structure fires and fire alarms, vehicle fires and accidents, emergency medical runs, vehicle extrications, trench rescues, industrial accidents, hazardous material incidents, and just about any other emergency you can think of. 

Fire Administration

The Administration of the Department is handled by the Fire Chief and the Deputy Chief.  They are responsible for all three divisions. 

The men and women of the Sterling Heights Fire Fighters Union are proud to be Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics with the Sterling Heights Fire Department.  We believe that our highly trained and motivated members deliver the highest standard of service and care there is.