Clean Toilets Daily, Learn to Cook Top Advice Sterling Heights, MI, Firefighters Hear at Graduation

A longtime Sterling Heights city councilmember recently provided a few words of advice to a group of newly-hired firefighters in the city.

“You’re going to be cleaning toilets every day,” Councilmember Henry Yanez told the group.

“Make sure you have clean bathrooms and never cook a bad meal — it stays with you your entire career. If you cook a bad meal, make it the last day before you retire.”

Yanez retired from the Sterling Heights Fire Department as a firefighter and paramedic before he was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. He was appointed to the City Council to fill a vacant seat in 2019.

The new firefighters were introduced to the council by Fire Chief Kevin Edmond, who administered the oath of office.

They include Kevin Grimes, Gavin Yelecich, Connor Verduci, Mario Yacou, Griffin Henke, Doug Muszkiewicz, Brendon Stryjecki, and Brody Gallager.

Emond said some of the men were hired back in August, but a few still had to attend paramedic school at Macomb Community College before they could formally join the roster.

“We felt it was important to recognize them as a group, so that’s the reason we delayed this,” the chief said.

Edmond said the department also received a $72,000 grant from the Michigan Emergency Medical Services Workforce, which allowed the firefighters to pay tuition and be paid while attending school.

“This is a great job,” Yanez said. “It’s a great career. This is a fun job, an exciting job, but also a dangerous job.”

The department includes over 100 personnel who operate five stations throughout Macomb County’s second largest community.

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