Firefighting is one of the most high-risk professions, but what if research could help reduce the risks? The Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, released its first spotlight on Northville Township Fire Department (NTFD) in Michigan, as part of the Spotlight Series on Research in Action.
This five-part story follows NTFD’s journey as they integrated research into their department’s practices, transforming their operations and preparedness. While each department is unique, the actions taken here offer valuable insights and can serve as a model for fire departments everywhere looking to translate research into practice.
Five-Party Story Tells NTFD’s Journey to Evidence-Based Practices
Part One: The Near Miss
“Within…a few short moments, the entire foyer collapsed into the basement. I don’t ever want to feel like I’m in this position again,” reflected Jesse Marcotte, training officer at NTFD. In the following video, Jesse speaks about this near miss event and how it promoted a department-wide response to prevent a similar situation from happening again.
From this point forward, NTFD effectively began the process of “unfreezing,” or preparing the department for change by creating awareness of the need for new ways of thinking and working, helping people overcome resistance and let go of old habits.
Part 2: The Journey to Evidence-Based Training
Following the near miss event, NTFD began reviewing research, including FSRI’s research on the impact of building construction on firefighter safety. For the next 15 years, NTFD gradually integrated the latest research into its training and operations. They navigated the transition and implemented new ideas to create a stronger, more prepared department.
The clip recaps the following improvements that NTFD carried out:
- 2006: Experienced a near miss event when responding to a basement fire
- 2009: Identified relevant research, including research on FSRI’s Fire Safety Academy
- 2012: Developed a self-contained breathing apparatus confidence course that replicated building construction in their community
- 2014: Created a training officer position and formed a guiding committee to make recommendations for changes
- 2015: Published a comprehensive operations manual to set a standard based on evidence
- 2016: Developed a series of live fire drills to give hands-on experience of the science in a controlled environment
- Present day: Started delivering workshops to increase exposure to evidence-based tactics
Part 3: Evidence-Based Training in Action
Over the course of this multi-year process, NTFD trained firefighters on as many evidence-based practices as possible, knowing that understanding the “why” would enable them to make quick decisions on the fireground.
As a result, firefighters began to see the impact of these changes in both training and department culture. Like Jesse explains in the video, they aimed to ultimately develop “tactics by facts and not tactics by opinion.”
Video about how NTFD fostered a culture of continuous improvement.
Part 4: Elevating the Trainee Experience
NTFD firefighters also shared how the department’s research-driven approach has improved their decision-making, training, and overall experience at the department. They explained how challenging the status quo and learning new evidence-based skills has helped build confidence and strengthen their commitment to safety.
This stage marks the moment when NTFD operationalized their changes or entered the “refreezing” stage. During this time, the department reinforced and solidified new practices to ensure the changes would be sustained long term.
Part 5: How To Get Started
The final video offers a call to action to encourage you to start this process by taking a free course on FSRI’s Fire Safety Academy with a colleague. Even small steps can make a big difference.
New Playbook Helps You Bring Evidence-Based Practices to Your Department
This video series highlights how one fire department has successfully integrated research-driven practices into their training and operations. To help other departments do the same, NFTD and FSRI have worked together to develop the Evidence-Based Considerations for Your Fireground Playbook for any department.
This document is designed to help departments develop a customized fireground playbook tailored to their unique resources, manpower, and operational environment. By using this guide, departments can implement evidence-based suppression tactics grounded in the latest fire safety research from FSRI. We encourage departments to assess their current capabilities and use the guidance within this playbook to create an operational model that meets their specific needs.
Start Small to Move Towards Evidence-Based Operations
The story of NTFD demonstrates how any fire department can make meaningful strides in safety by embracing evidence-based practices and committing to ongoing learning. By starting small—whether by taking a course with a colleague or by revising existing protocols—departments can build a culture that values growth and innovation. Each step toward integrating research into daily operations and training is a step toward a safer, more prepared crew.
