FEMA funds SmartBurner pilot in three US cities, including Sterling Heights
The initiative installs temperature-limiting controls in Fieldstone Apartments to address cooking fires, the leading cause of residential blazes.
By Alina Campbell ·
The Sterling Heights Fire Department unveiled SmartBurner technology on Monday as part of a federally funded pilot program. The initiative aims to reduce cooking fires, which remain the leading cause of home fires in the United States. Only three sites nationwide were selected for the 2026 Cooking Fire Prevention Toolkit Initiative.
Sterling Heights was chosen by Vision 20/20, a project of the Institution of Fire Engineers/US Branch. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program provides the funding. The technology uses temperature-limiting controls to prevent electric stove burners from reaching heat levels that can ignite cooking materials.
The equipment is installed in units at Fieldstone Apartments on Stonegate Drive, near the intersection of 14 Mile and Schoenherr roads. Fire Marshal Tracy Davis stated that the pilot allows the city to take a proactive approach to preventing a common source of residential fires. Davis said the partnership with Fieldstone and FEMA helps protect families, neighboring tenants, and property.
The pilot aligns with an existing Sterling Heights ordinance for new multifamily dwellings. Under Section 605.5.3 of the city code, stoves in these buildings must be electrically powered and equipped with SmartBurner or substantially equivalent technology. The ordinance prohibits gas and other fuel-fired stoves in new multifamily structures. Officials noted that the initiative also provides educational resources to residents at no cost to the city or property.
State Fire Marshal Tom Hughes praised the department’s approach during the launch event. Hughes said Sterling Heights is demonstrating what is possible when a department looks beyond traditional approaches to reach residents and reduce risks. He added that this is the type of work the state wants to encourage throughout Michigan.
Fieldstone Apartments Property Manager Brittany Weston said the program is a fitting conclusion to Fire Prevention Month. She noted that property managers know the people who call their communities home and that their safety matters personally. Pioneering Technology Executive Vice President of Business Development Will Boake said the city’s leadership in community risk reduction will help build a model for other fire departments.
The launch event included remarks from city and fire officials, state fire-safety leaders, and project partners. Attendees viewed fire-prevention education materials and observed a SmartBurner installation and demonstration in one of the Fieldstone Apartments units.
