HomeFirefighter Training
Many industries rely on data and analysis to enhance their decision-making processes in the new age of information. Fire and emergency services should be the same. An analytical approach helps emergency service organizations improve their community risk reduction tactics, marketing, workforce development, and finance strategies. Every aspect of the fire service, from response times to tactics and internal and external customer satisfaction, can always be measured, analyzed, and improved.
The fire service is in a new era, and you rarely get to be on the ground floor of something big, such as the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), which is being scrapped in favor of the National Emergency Reporting Information System (NERIS). It will replace NFIRS with a promise to change how we report the various scenes we respond to. Another dataset in the fire and emergency services organization is the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS). This comprehensive dataset collaborates with stakeholders across many medical disciplines and is a standardized collection of emergency medical service (EMS) activations and patient care on a national level. This is an exciting time for our industry.
The primary objective of a fire and emergency service data analyst is to draw meaningful insights from different data sources, provide analysis to enhance understanding, predict future outcomes based on trends and patterns (Figure 1), and support chief officers in the development of effective strategies to tackle the pressing issues of your organization. To achieve your goal, you need an understanding of the fire and emergency services industry, including your fire department’s operations and their challenges. You must collaborate with stakeholders, interpret fire and emergency medical services data, and use analytical tools.
Retired Assistant Chief Eddie Buchanan reminds us that the fire service measures everything up to the “air brake.” This means we look at a small portion of the call life cycle until we arrive on the scene, the air brake is applied, and the proverbial clock turns off.
The air brake concept signifies the end of the response phase and the beginning of the on-scene phase. How long did it take for these fire crews to begin a search for victims? How long did it take to get water on the fire or a tool to the extrication process? Unfortunately, the clock stops for tactics at an emergency scene. Tactics are not yet measured in the current national dataset (NFIRS) but are crucial for understanding and improving our operations. NERIS will change this dynamic and allow organizations to document tactics, as its basic data in tactical metrics provides a substantial foundation point.
Some time ago, I spoke with a new fire department data analyst with limited operational fire and EMS experience after their department suffered the loss of a civilian in an apartment fire. Their personnel had optimal turnout times, and an effective response force was assembled within their department’s parameters, but there was still a civilian death. The data analyst was baffled by the loss and did not consider the department’s tactics, but he was intensely curious.
As a fire department data analyst, it is crucial to analyze tactics and understand their effectiveness, which can help improve training for officers and crews. Domain knowledge of your industry is essential for becoming a data analyst. Understanding the basic tenets of emergency services is vital for implementing changes in your department and, potentially, within the fire and EMS system as a whole.
You can consider either of two learning paths, or, ideally, a combination of both. The first learning path is planned, formal, and structured in data analytics and data science. Many universities offer undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, or certificates in the field. The second path involves using a self-learning model, which should be methodically thought out. Numerous platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, and Microsoft allow individuals to access free or low-cost resources to begin their learning journey. You can follow the outline that a structured class would follow, but structure it with the free or low-cost courses online.
“Data essentials” courses begin with an introduction to basic statistical concepts, providing you with a dependable footing in data analytics. From there, the curriculum introduces you to exploratory data analysis, where you will learn techniques to digest and visualize datasets, helping to uncover any underlying patterns. As you progress, your courses should familiarize you with programming languages typically used in data analysis, specifically R, Python, and SQL (Figure 2). You will also learn to visualize your data with Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or other visualization programs.
Once you’ve grasped these essential skills, you’ll have opportunities for more in-depth education in advanced topics. You will have the chance to learn about data governance. This addresses managing and overseeing data availability, usability, integrity, and security within your organization. Data governance also addresses data ethics, providing an understanding of the responsibilities and ethical considerations related to data handling and analysis. And you’ll explore advanced statistical techniques and data visualization methods. This will equip you with the knowledge you need to create clear representations of your data.
While education provides a strong theoretical foundation, practical experience is equally important. The prospect of gaining this hands-on experience may appear overwhelming initially. But numerous free datasets are available that serve as excellent beginner-to-expert resources.
I discovered a dislike for working with financial data by downloading and experimenting with different datasets. However, I enjoy finding and exploring patterns in data, including times with service-related industries. Using practice datasets, you should appreciate the value of making mistakes, such as dealing with duplicate key values or understanding the difference between count and distinct count. Mistakes are not failures, but valuable learning opportunities that will make you more efficient and confident in your abilities. Embrace the process and make more mistakes!
Practice datasets are all over the internet, but I recommend the website Kaggle (Figure 3). On Kaggle, you can enter contests to test your exploratory data analysis knowledge and validate your visualization techniques. More importantly, you can interact with a community of like-minded data analysts trying to gain extra knowledge or help others achieve that edge.
In 2006, Clive Humby, a data scientist in the United Kingdom, coined the phrase “Data is the new oil.” 1 He went on to explain that while data has value, it’s not usable in an unrefined state.
Data science is more than math or working with NFIRS, NERIS, and electronic patient care reports. It’s about the study of data. The rapid growth of data science means that it’s widely accepted. In addition, organizations, from large corporations to small businesses, are increasingly realizing its benefits. You are part of a larger community and contributing to this exciting field.
Unsurprisingly, data science is becoming an integral part of our modern fire service. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) are spearheading the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a fire service data analyst role with the advent of NFPA 1022, Standard for Fire and Emergency Services Analyst Professional Qualifications, and the CPSE’s Fire and Emergency Services Analyst credentialing.
Do you want to be a fire and emergency services data analyst? It’s a great time to enter this field. With NERIS and NEMSIS datasets, the foundation is set for something big and exciting. We need bold people to challenge the status quo and advance the need for data analytics in the fire and emergency services industry.
TODD DONOVAN, MS, FESA, is an accreditation manager and data analyst with the Fayetteville (NC) Fire Department. He retired from the Derry (NH) Fire Department as a lieutenant/paramedic in 2022. Donovan has a master’s degree in leadership from the University of New Hampshire and is credentialed as a fire and emergency services analyst through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Additionally, he is an advocate and speaker for topics surrounding mental health.
Get the latest training and management insights for the fire service.
