Emergency responders

New construction methods and materials, renewable energy sources, and other emerging technologies all make today’s emergency response ever more challenging. We analyze fire service data and research fire ground tactics and personal protective equipment to help you stay safe in a fast changing world.

To learn about older reports, you can:

• see the list of available archived reports;
• search and download from the NFPA Library & Archives catalog;
• contact the library at +1 617 984-7445.

You can also browse NFPA workshop and symposium proceedings on this topic.

Latest report

Review of Emergency Responder Standard Operating Procedures /Guidelines (SOP/SOG)

The purpose of this Research Foundation project was to collect and analyze SOPs/SOGs from North American fire departments to determine similarities, difference, and trends that will help guide the development of a model SOP/SOG template for NFPA 1700, Guide for Structural Fire Fighting.

Download the report.

Fatalities & injuries

• Firefighter Fatalities in the United States (2018)
• Firefighter Injuries in the United States (2018)
• Patterns of Female Firefighter Injuries on the Fireground (2017)
• Patterns of Firefighter Fireground Injuries (2016)
• U.S. Volunteer Firefighter Injuries (2016)

Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service

• A Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service (2016)
• Needs Assessment dashboard

How does your state measure up?

Needs Assessment tool

Use this online tool to create customizable data reports and find out how well your fire department is operating/equipped compared to other U.S. fire departments in the following modules - state response rates, formal firefighter training, firefighter fitness and health personal protective equipment (PPE).

Sign in or register to use the tool.

Personal protective equipment

• Evaluation of the Performance of Station Wear Worn under a NFPA 1971 Structural Fire Fighter Protective Ensemble (2018)
• Recommendations for Developing and Implementing a Fire Service Contamination Control Campaign (2017)
• Non-Destructive Assessment of Outer Shell Degradation for Firefighter Turnouts (2017)
• Fire Fighter Equipment Operational Environment: Evaluation of Thermal Conditions (2017)
• Research Roadmap for Smart Fire Fighting (2015)
• Evaluation and Enhancement of Fire Fighter PASS Effectiveness (2015)
• Development of Permeation Test Method for Zippers and Other Closures (2014)
• Data Collection Summary for PPE Care and Maintenance (2013)
• Evaluation of Intrinsic Safety for Emergency Responder Electronic Safety Equipment (2013)

Profiles of fire departments

• U.S. Fire Department Profile (2019)
• Canadian Fire Department Profile (2018)
• Fire Department Comparison tool

Fire department calls & operations

• Literature Review on Spaceport Fire Safety (2018)
• Fire Department Roadway and Vehicle Incidents (2017)
• Automotive Fire Apparatus Tire Replacement (2015)
• Risk-Based Decision Support in Managing Unwanted Alarms (2013) 
• False Alarm Activity in the U.S. (2013)
• Fire department calls - table

Fireground tactics

• Review of Emergency Responder Standard Operating Procedures/Guidelines (SOP/SOG) (2019)
• Impact of Fixed Fire Fighting Systems on Road Tunnel Resilience, Ventilation, and Other Systems (2017)
• High Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFT) On-Scene Incident Commander Field Guide (2016)
• Liquid Petroleum Pipeline Emergencies On-Scene Incident Commander Field Guide (2016)
• Development of Fire Mitigations Solutions for PV Systems Installed on Building Roofs - Phase 1 (2016)
• Research Roadmap for Smart Fire Fighting (2015)
• Analysis of Recruit/Initial Fire Fighter Trainings Curricula (2015)
• Development of Emergency Responder SOPs/SOGs: Using Crowdsourcing to Address Electric Vehicle Fires (2014)
• Evaluation of Fire Service Training (2014)
• Best Practices for Emergency Response to Incidents Involving Electric Vehicles Battery Hazards: A Report on Full-Scale Testing Results (2013)
• Evaluation of Fire Flow Methodologies (2013)

Electric/Alternative Fuel Vehicles

• Alternative Fuel Vehicle Responder Training (2017)
• Best Practices for Emergency Response to Incidents Involving Electric Vehicles Battery Hazards: A Report on Full-Scale Testing Results (2013)

Fire prevention strategies

• Wildland/Urban Interface: Fire Department Wildfire Preparedness and Readiness Capabilities (2017)
• Development of an Environmental and Economic Assessment Tool (Enveco Tool) for Fire Events (2016)
• Fire Based Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine (MIH & CP) – Data and Resources (2016)
• Pathways for Building Fire Spread at the Wildland Urban Interface (2015)