Dearborn, Melvindale Fire Departments Formalize Merger

This week marks the beginning of a joint Dearborn-Melvindale fire department that was a year in the making. 

The merger brings together four Dearborn fire stations and one Melvindale station to form a five-station department covering both communities. 

"In these economic times, we must look at how we can deliver the best service to our customers in the most cost-effective way," Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly said in a press release. "I know change is hard, but in this case, residents in both communities will benefit." 

On Friday, the mayors of the two communities ceremonially signed the merger contract, and the agreement officially began Sunday morning during the 8 a.m. shift change.

According to the press release, the Melvindale station is located closer to certain sections of southwest Dearborn than Dearborn’s existing four stations. 

As part of the ceremony on Friday, 14 Melvindale firefighters officially became Dearborn employees. They will continue to be assigned to the station in Melvindale.

Under the agreement, Dearborn will lease the Melvindale fire station for $1 and use Melvindale’s equipment.

The merged department will be led by Fire Chief Joseph Murray. Steven Densmore, formerly of the Melvindale department, became the assistant fire chief on Friday. 

In June, Murray said that with the addition of the Melvindale station, response times for both communities would be reduced to between 2 to 4 minutes. Previously, Dearborn's response time in some areas of the city was between 6 and 8 minutes.