By Dan King
No one questions the importance of firefighters and the fire department. The increased risk of wildland fires, chemical spills, medical calls, and house fires are all reason enough to warrant a talented, robust fire department. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), residential fires alone have increased by 19% in the last decade.
But what about industrial fires? How much of a threat do they really present? Should organizations with high hazards invest in a dedicated industrial fire department to prevent such disasters?
The short answer is “yes.” The long answer depends on an analysis of what events constitute as industrial fires or emergency incidents and the effect they can have on the surrounding environment.
Industrial Fire Risks
The term “industrial fire” is pretty self-explanatory. It refers to any fire that occurs in a business setting, especially an industrial or manufacturing complex. Such buildings are often significantly larger than houses and tend to contain chemicals, machines, and processes that can cause explosions when fires occur. Industrial fires and emergency incidents endanger everyone and everything in the surrounding area. House fires, in contrast, can usually be contained, even if the house itself is unsalvageable.
- Industrial and Municipal Fire Department Interface
- Industrial Firefighting: Preparing Your Fire Department for Response
Industrial fires can wreak havoc and cause a devastating degree of damage. They put everyone within the building and surrounding it at risk of death or injury from inhalation, burns, or building collapse. They also put those same people at risk of losing their jobs and livelihoods, given that industrial fires often result in the building’s temporary or even permanent closure. Moreover, when industrial fires occur, they can shut down surrounding businesses, interstates, schools, and, in some cases, air travel.
The Need for Industrial Firefighters
The good news is that, overall, the sheer number of industrial fires and emergency incidents has decreased. This is primarily a result of more widely accepted Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) regulations. However, we shouldn’t become complacent and assume that industrial fires are not a significant threat. In 2019, nearly a quarter (23%) of all fires in the U.S. qualified as industrial fires. The total number (approximately 110,900) is a net decrease from prior years, but it is still a hefty figure. This is also true of the number of deaths from industrial incidents, which has increased by 50% since 2016.
Expecting a municipal fire department to handle large or small industrial incidents is unrealistic and dismissive. This is one of the main points Jesse Wilson, a consultant with All-risk Engineering, conveys to organizations in the chemical and petroleum industry when advising them on risk management. Jesse states that organizations with a dedicated (i.e., full-time) industrial or emergency response team (ERT) have a considerable advantage over organizations that do not. Most notably, they tend to report higher industrial fire prevention rates and shorter incident response times. Maintaining a state of emergency readiness in an environment where high hazards are located takes focus and attention. Dedicated industrial firefighters provide both.
Correlation between Investments in Industrial Firefighting and Overall Safety Culture
The presence of an industrial fire department is not just beneficial for lightening the load on local municipal or volunteer fire departments. Organizations that employ industrial firefighters also reap indirect cultural benefits. The most important of these is an improved safety culture.
To some degree, all fire departments invest in the safety of their own departments and the surrounding community. Organizations and or private industry that establish an industrial fire department or an ERT exhibit an increased return on investment for a few key reasons. First, this investment proves to local, state, and federal agencies in charge of emergency response that these organizations are capable of responsible and effective prioritization. Rather than relying on the local fire department to address all emergency incidents, they allocate resources responsibly to increase fire prevention efforts and protect human life.
Second, industrial firefighters are better equipped to respond to emergency incidents due to the fact industrial firefighters are trained on the hazards and processes located at the facility. This in and of itself improves the firefighters’ situational awareness and increases their ability to stay safe while addressing the fire. Spontaneous combustion and chemical explosions are responsible for a little more than two-thirds of all industrial fires with known causes. They both present distinct challenges to the people trying to combat them. Industrial firefighters know this and are better prepared to handle these specific incidents than the local fire department.
Third, by establishing a specially trained industrial fire department, the organization proves that it takes the safety of both its employees and community members equally seriously. They do not naively employ a one-size-fits-all approach to firefighting, nor do they overtax their local fire departments’ resources. Regardless of the increased upfront cost, they do what it takes to protect people, property, and the environment and support all stakeholders.
Taking Full Advantage of the Industrial Fire Department
Based on this information, organizations with high hazards should seriously consider establishing a dedicated industrial fire department. During this establishment, they should partner with the local fire department and spread awareness throughout the community, emphasizing the extra layer of safety provided. They should also network with the industrial fire community through organizations like the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Industrial Fire and Safety Section. All firefighters are heralds of safety and security, and people increasingly look to them as models of effective community service and protection. It only makes sense, then, that communities and citizens will feel more content in the knowledge that their local industry places safety and the environment first by employing industrial firefighters. In addition to communicating their existence, organizations that employ industrial firefighters should also increase the level of activity industrial firefighters have in their communities. They cannot exist in name only—they must have a physical presence. For example, manufacturing facilities and industrial complexes should invite industrial firefighters to speak with staff members about the leading causes of industrial fires and what these staff members can do to decrease the likelihood of their occurrence. This includes identifying particularly dangerous chemicals, explaining how to store them safely, and informing people of the steps to take before chemical fires get out of hand. Educating people and the community on the different types of fires and the efforts made in the area of industrial fire prevention adds value to the organization and community.
Dan King has served the fire and emergency services industry for 24 years. His experience includes both municipal and industrial fire departments, federal emergency preparedness, and occupational health management. At present, he serves as the Fire Protection and Emergency Manager at General Dynamics Electric Boat. He is also the Chairman of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Industrial Fire and Safety Section. Dan has special expertise leading, training, and mentoring top performers in the industry. Dan leverages this experience and expertise to develop in-depth training programs that positively affect safety metrics and protocols for risk management organizations. His education includes a master’s degree in executive leadership and a bachelor’s degree in fire administration. He is currently pursing his Ph.D. in emergency management.
