Madison Heights Fire Department launches Community Connect to share resident data for emergency response

The Madison Heights Fire Department introduced Community Connect, a voluntary online platform that lets residents and businesses provide property and occupant information to first responders, Fire Chief Greg Lolito told the City Council on Sept. 8.

Chief Greg Lolito said Community Connect is “the most significant outreach program our department has ever launched” and described it as a secure portal that can include medical or mobility needs, pets, access points, building layouts and hazardous-materials information to help crews make faster, safer decisions during emergency responses.

The program is free, and residents and businesses create secure accounts and enter details the department can access at the time of response. “Having this information before we arrive allows our crews to make a faster, safer, and more informed decision, enhancing our capabilities to protect lives, property, or even our firefighters,” Lolito said.

City staff will promote registration through the fire department page on the city website, event flyers with QR codes and a public open house at the department. Lolito said the department will hand out informational flyers at community events including the Revenant Heights open house on Sept. 13.

Chief Lolito said the department is offering a sign-up incentive: a random drawing for 24 fire blankets for residents who register during the initial outreach period. He also said the department has partnered with a local credit union to support outreach and that the platform will prompt annual reminders for residents to confirm or update their information.

The presentation closed with an invitation to residents to register online or at upcoming in-person events; no council action was required.