The Silent Alarm: Why Detroit Firefighters Are Dying off the Clock
When we picture the dangers of firefighting in Detroit, we imagine collapsing roofs in abandoned bungalows or flashovers in industrial warehouses. We think of the “Devil’s Nights” of the 1980s or the hollowed-out structures of the post-bankruptcy era. Sleep deprivation might be the most dangerous situation they face.
But a deep dive into the last 20 years of the Detroit Fire Department (DFD) reveals a terrifying shift. The most dangerous threat to Detroit’s bravest isn’t the fire itself—it’s the biological and psychological cost of the job.
Based on exhaustive research into DFD mortality and morbidity from 2005 to 2025, here is the truth about the human infrastructure of Detroit’s crisis management.
1. The Enemy Has Changed
For decades, the primary threat was traumatic injury. We lost heroes like Walter P. Harris to structural collapse in 2008. But in the last decade, the cause of death has shifted inward.
We are seeing veteran firefighters drop from cardiac events and strokes, often within hours of a shift.
- Kevin V. Ramsey (2017) died of a heart attack after fighting two fires back-to-back.
- Michael J. Lubig (2018) died of a stroke after a grueling 24-hour shift.
- Shayne Raxter (2021) succumbed to a cardiac event, recognized as a Line of Duty Death.
These aren’t random medical anomalies. They are the result of a physiological battering ram called sleep deprivation.
2. The “Sleep Debt” Is Fatal
The 24-hour shift is a staple of fire service tradition, but biologically, it is a killer. Research confirms that sleep deprivation acts as a “force multiplier” for disease. When a firefighter is awake for 24 hours, running medical calls and fires, their body enters a state of hormonal chaos:
- Cortisol Overload: Lack of sleep spikes cortisol (the stress hormone), keeping the body in a constant “fight or flight” state. This directly raises blood pressure and hardens arteries, leading to the heart attacks we see in men like Ramsey.
- Testosterone Crash: Sleep loss crushes testosterone levels, which are vital for muscle recovery and mood regulation. Low testosterone is linked to depression, fatigue, and irritability.
- The Hunger Trap: Poor rest disrupts ghrelin and leptin, the hormones that control hunger. This drives cravings for high-calorie comfort food, leading to obesity and insulin resistance—precursors to heart disease.
3. The Mental Health Siege
Perhaps the most shocking finding in the DFD research was a logistical failure: until 2021, the department employed only one peer counselor for a force of nearly 1,000 people.
This lack of support left firefighters alone to process the trauma of pediatric deaths, burn victims, and the grinding poverty of the city. The result?
- Suicide: We’ve seen tragedy strike both active and retired members, with near-misses publicly acknowledged by firefighters like Matt Dunaj, who credited his dog with stopping his suicide attempt in 2024.
- Substance Abuse as Medicine: Without clinical support, alcohol became the coping mechanism of choice. Audits revealed that up to 40% of staff had witnessed drinking on the job, and 32% of those testing positive in previous years were officers.
This isn’t just “bad behavior.” It is a neurobiological reaction. Sleep deprivation impairs the prefrontal cortex—the brain’s “brakes” for impulse control—while hyperactivating the amygdala (the emotional center). A tired brain is chemically primed for addiction and emotional volatility.
4. The Cost of Survival
The firefighters of Detroit served as the shock absorbers for the city’s bankruptcy. They took pay cuts and pension slashes while working in one of the most demanding operational theaters in the nation. They saved the city, but the city didn’t save them.
As we move forward, we must recognize that “safety equipment” isn’t just breathing apparatus and turnout gear. It is proper staffing to allow for sleep, a robust mental health infrastructure to prevent suicide, and a culture that treats rest as a biological necessity, not a luxury.
5. A Beacon of Hope: Restoring Restful Sleep
While the systemic issues are daunting, change often begins with individual action. In late 2025, the city finally moved to address the “rest deficit” in a tangible way.
Cierra Godsey was honored with the Spirit of Detroit Award by the Detroit City Council for her critical role in an initiative to replace the aging bedding in firehouses across the city. Working alongside Council Member Mary Waters, who championed the resolution, this effort secured $92,000 to replace approximately 200 bedding units that had fallen into disrepair.
For years, firefighters slept on worn-out mattresses that hindered the little rest they could get between runs. Godsey’s advocacy helped drive the single largest overhaul of sleeping quarters in recent department history. By ensuring that every firefighter has a decent place to lay their head, she addressed the very root of the physiological crisis—sleep deprivation. It is a reminder that supporting our first responders requires more than just words; it requires securing the basic necessities that allow them to survive the job.
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