Published June 11, 2026

The Dearborn Fire Department Special Operations Team, led by Assistant Fire Chief Kelly Meister, has been recognized statewide with the elite Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MI-MABAS) validation.

The validation recognizes the Dearborn Special Operations team as a technical rescue company with elite-level capability in confined space rescue and high angle rope rescue.

Established in 2013, the Dearborn Fire Department Special Operations Team is made up of 25 firefighters who undertake specialized training on a monthly basis in various types of rescue including confined space, rope rescue and water rescue. The Special Operations Team also manages the Department’s tactical paramedic and drone programs.

After many years of training and preparation, the Dearborn Fire Special Operations Team applied for validation by MI-MABAS. On May 27, 2026 the team was evaluated by MI-MABAS officials on their response in two rescue disciplines, confined space and high angle rope rescue.

Following the evaluation, the Dearborn Fire Department was notified of the team's validation, which now recognized them as an elite level team that can be activated for significant events throughout the state if needed.

Dearborn Fire Chief Joseph Murray stated, “This validation is a monumental milestone for our department and a testament to the unwavering dedication of our firefighters. Our Special Operations Team members have worked hard and pushed themselves to the absolute limit to achieve this elite standard. Their hard work ensures that Dearborn, and if needed our regional partners, will have access to top tier life-saving capabilities in the most extreme environments imaginable.”

Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud stated, “We extend our deepest congratulations to the members of the Dearborn Fire Department’s Special Operations Team for their sacrifice, professionalism, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Because of their efforts, Dearborn is safer today than ever before.”

A Rare and elite achievement

The validation is an extraordinary achievement in that the Dearborn Fire Department secured this validation as a standalone, city-based team. While technical rescue assets of this caliber are typically organized at the county or regional level by pooling resources from multiple municipalities, the Dearborn Fire Department has been able to put together a top-tier team due to the efforts of the Department, City Administration, and City Council. 

The City of Dearborn now hosts one of the few self-sustained municipal technical rescue companies in the state.

Validated to respond at scale

To achieve “Company” status under state guidelines, a department must demonstrate immense depth and operational readiness. The Dearborn Fire Department met this challenge by validating two separate squads of seven certified members each, ensuring a minimum of 14 highly specialized technicians ready to deploy to a complex incident at any given moment.

• High Angle Rope Rescue (Technician Level): Authorizes the team to use advanced rope systems, highlines, and rigging to rescue victims from extreme elevations, such as high-rise buildings, industrial towers, or steep terrain.
• Confined Space Rescue (Technician Level): Certifies the team to enter atmospheric and physically hazardous environments with limited egress—such as storage tanks, silos, and underground utility vaults—to perform life-saving operations.

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