By Bob Reif
Deputy State Fire Marshal
Data, data, data. It seems that everywhere we turn, we are hit with the term data: “data-driven decision-making," “data digs," “deep dive into data," “mine the data," “What does the data tell you?" In today's world, data is inescapable, and though some of us are tempted to avoid it, it may be time for the fire service to accept and embrace it.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there has been a 57 percent drop in the number of fires in the United States over the last 45 years — despite a 41 percent increase in population. How is that possible? The NFPA cites “improved public education and smoke alarm adoption, updated heating equipment, and stronger enforcement of building codes."
Here's what's noteworthy about the corresponding data: In 1977, the total number of calls annually per US firefighter was 9.8. By 2012, that rate had increased to 29.4 per firefighter, a result of the increased reliance on fire department response to EMS calls, yet the calls that involved active fire dropped from 2.1 per firefighter to 1.2 per year. Bottom line? Though US firefighters are far busier, they have considerably less experience with actual fire. That should inform department training plans. Keep firefighters' medical skills sharp if your department responds to medicals, but plan training that will in some way compensate — as much as possible — for the lack of experience with live fire.
Columbia Southern University cited some data (“Emerging Trends in the Fire Service in 2020") concerning the explosive growth of homes being built in designated Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas. As of 2021, there were nearly 50 million such homes in the United States, and there are approximately one million more being built every three years. People who reside in those homes need to be educated about “hardening" their properties, creating “defensible space," and ensuring their means of egress and emergency vehicles' access.
If your service area includes WUI areas, it is incumbent on you to protect your residents by educating them about wildland fire safety.
Data, data, data. All the more reason to mark your calendar for November 16th, when we'll roll out the much anticipated Minnesota Fire Assessment Tool during our virtual Fall Safety Summit!
