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Fire Science and Technology Educators

NFPA reports
See Fire Science & Technology Educators Section relevant reports. 

• Overall fire statistics 
• Fire protective systems 
• Economic impacts 

Meeting minutes
Read the minutes from the Executive Board conference call (PDF, 33 KB) held November 15.

Fire Science & Technology Educators Section activities at NFPA
Conference & Expo 

Ordinary People and Effective Operation of Fire Extinguishers
by Brandon Poole, Kathy Ann Notarianni and Randy Harris, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and William D. Hicks, Corey Hanks and Gregory E. Gorbett, Eastern Kentucky University
There is much speculation about the average person’s ability to use a fire extinguisher effectively. This speculation includes the ability of a novice user to adequately extinguish a fire with a fire extinguisher without harming oneself or others. 

This study employed a random sampling of the population to gather data that described and quantified several aspects relating to use, technique, and safety. Participants were presented with an extinguisher and asked to extinguish a controlled propane fire. The BullEx Intelligent Training System was used in this study to simulate a A fire through a controlled propane system.

Participants were recruited from the campuses of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Eastern Kentucky University. The sample pool consisted of 276 participants who participated in a two-trial process. The first trial observed the participant’s ability to use a fire extinguisher without any training or guidance from the investigators. The second trial observed the participant’s ability to use a fire extinguisher with a small amount of training provided immediately after the first trial. This enabled the investigators to determine the level of ability without training or guidance (Trial 1), and improvement demonstrated for each variable after a short training session (Trial 2).

Overall, the results demonstrate that the subjects of the study were able to operate a fire extinguisher without prior training. In addition, participants demonstrated increased confidence and performance in effective operation of the extinguisher when exposed to just basic levels of training. Download the report. (PDF, 827 KB) 

The Fire Science and Technology Educators Section was authorized by the NFPA Board of Directors on June 22, 1976 and organized on November 15, 1976.

Membership in the Fire Science and Technology Educators Section is contingent upon membership in NFPA and shall be limited to full and adjunct faculty, instructors, and administrators at institutions of higher education and such other persons as the Executive Board determines to be in the interest of the section.

Objectives of the section as set forth in its constitution are as follows:

1. Advance professionalism in the field of fire protection, encouraging educational goals at institutions of higher education.
2. Hold periodic meetings for the purpose of discussing problems and exchanging information of concern with members.
3. Develop qualification guidelines for fire science and technology educators at institutions of higher education.
4. Study, develop, and assess curriculum, teaching materials, and educational methods.
5. Develop and disseminate information such as:
   • Directories of educational institutions, meetings, and courses in fire science and technology.
   • Technical advances in fire science.
6. Stimulate and participate in research and development in furtherance of the objective of NFPA.
7. Undertake such other projects as may be authorized in the interest of the section and NFPA.

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