Your fire department was originally formed in 1876. At that time it was called the Village of Brighton Fire Department and was essentially a bucket brigade.

In 1879 the first village hall was constructed next to what is now the mill pond for a cost of $2,300. The population of the village at that time was 800. The first floor housed the fire department and jail. The second floor accommodated the council chambers and voting room.

In 1882 the first fire fighting apparatus was purchased. It was a horse drawn hand pumper. This apparatus was housed in the new village hall.

Although the Village of Brighton became a city in 1928 this department became a charter member of Brighton City in 1938 and became known as the Brighton Fire Department.

In 1941, the department took delivery of another fire apparatus. This truck was a 1941 Chevrolet with John Bean high pressure equipment. At the close of the World War II we traded it in for a new and improved 1946 Chevrolet.

In 1951, the Brighton Junior Fire Department was formed, which was made up of young people of the community between the ages of 16-18. These young people would be allowed to perform tasks under the supervision of the senior fire department members. [Junior Program]

In 1950, the fire department moved across the street from the old town hall into a new fire hall, which was known as the Main Street Emporium. The fire hall was financed and built by the fire department at no cost to the City of Brighton.

In the early 1960s the department put commercial fire band radios in each apparatus. At this time the county began to dispatch us and we became Station 3 Brighton. At that time we began a 3-digit numbering system for the apparatus that begins with 3 for our station.

In 1964 the women’s auxiliary was formed and was composed primarily of the wives of the fire fighters. At that time many of the spouses also learned how to drive and pump each apparatus. The purpose of the organization was to help the firefighters in any way they could, whether that meant putting together a spur-of-the moment breakfast after a middle-of-the-night structure fire or working at a fundraiser for some worthwhile cause.

Our first rescue vehicle (301) was received during the early to mid-1960s. It was a used GMC panel truck that we purchased from the GM proving grounds and converted for fire department use. In 1972, we received our second rescue vehicle, a Ford Econoliner.

In the early 1980s we built our first portable lighting unit known as 309. It was built with components donated primarily from the civil service. The lights were originally used to light the ball field on the property before the Fire Hall was built.

In 1981 we sold the station on Main Street and donated the proceeds to the City of Brighton to help defer the cost of the new fire hall which we presently occupy. In addition, the land that the current fire station is located upon and adjacent properties were owned by us and were sold to also help defer the cost of this new fire hall. With all of this, approximately half of the total cost of the new fire hall was paid for by this department. We moved into our current fire hall early in 1982.

In September 1988, the City of Brighton added its first full-time Fire Chief whose primary duties include the administration and supervision of the fire department.

At the turn of the century, Brighton and the surrounding areas were booming – as evident with the larger communities and highway expansions. In 2001, there was a purchase of two 2001 E-One Engines, and another in 2003. The department purchased two 2006 Ford F550 / E-OneRescues and a 2007 Pierce Heavy Rescue. For dual role coverage in our township stations, the department purchased two 2009 Pierce Rescue Pumpers.

In 2012, the department purchased two Pierce 2200-gallon Tankers as well as a Pierce 95′ mid-mount ladder with a 2000 gpm pump.

Today, the Brighton Area Fire Authority serves a response district that includes 74 square miles and a population of 47,000 residents within the City of Brighton, Charter Township of Brighton and Genoa Township. The area was initially protected by individual fire departments within each municipality.

The department recently purchased two 2015 Pierce Engines with 1000 gallons and class A foam with 1250 gpm pumps, replacing the two 2001 E-One engines.

In addition, the Brighton Area Fire Authority serves nine schools in three different school districts as well as several private schools and early childhood learning centers. The fire department also serves those traveling on over 30 miles of interstate roadways and one major interchange (I-96 & U.S. 23).

To better serve our residents, we are now proud to provide full-time staffing at five fire stations, ensuring 24-hour coverage and rapid response capabilities. In addition, we added two duty engines to meet the increasing demands of our community with greater efficiency and reliability.

We also invested in the future with significant facility updates: Station 34 underwent a comprehensive remodel to enhance functionality, while the brand-new Station 33 was built to provide state-of-the-art resources for our firefighters and the community. These advancements reflect our ongoing commitment to safety, service, and readiness.