Fire Services Research & Innovation
At the University of Waterloo Fire Research & Safety group, we partner directly with fire services, first-responders and emergency agencies to research real-world challenges. By bringing together academic research and field-based operations we enable evidence-based improvements in firefighter safety, tactics, equipment and incident response.
Our Collaborative Approach
Working closely with the Kitchener Fire Department, Waterloo Fire Department, Cambridge Fire Department and numerous fire-services across Ontario and Canada, we blend hands-on field experiments with advanced modelling to address evolving hazards. Our history includes instrumented house burns, large open-pit fire tests, targeted testing of new technologies and investigations of turnout gear, radiation exposure and ventilation methods.
Key Research Themes
Firefighter Health, Safety & Performance
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Monitoring physiological and cognitive response of firefighters during live fires, smoke exposure, heat stress and fatigue.
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Evaluating turnout gear, breathing apparatus performance, radiant heat exposure and flashover.
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Developing protocols and training tools to enhance safety for a changing workforce with diverse physical profiles. Contributing to collaborative efforts in firefighter health and wellness, statistical analysis of fire incidents and risk profiles, such as house fire or health, for individuals and communities.
Tactical Suppression & Ventilation Studies
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Instrumented experiments in abandoned-house and live-fire training settings to compare ventilation strategies (natural vs. positive-pressure) and suppression tactics.
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Comprehensive assessment of modern suppression agents (wetting agents, aerosols, gels, water mist, foam) under realistic structural-fire conditions.
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Feedback to fire departments on hose-advance tactics, building layout effects, smoke/heat flows and fire-ground safety margins.
Emerging Hazards & Equipment Innovation
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Testing and validation of new suppression methods, robotic sensor systems, and fire-service technologies tailored to modern threats.
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Addressing large-scale fuel spills, renewable-energy installations, industrial fires, and complex structures in collaboration with fire services and industry.
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Vehicle fires, battery energy-storage events, and structural collapse scenarios are now part of our evolving portfolio.
Data-Driven Incident Analysis, Modelling & Training
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Capturing real-time data from training fires and incident simulations for retrospective modelling, situational awareness and decision-support systems.
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Incorporating machine-learning, spatial analysis and predictive hazard-models to support fire-service resource allocation and risk planning.
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Developing VR/AR training modules and digital twin approaches to enhance scenario-based readiness for fire-services.
Applications & Impact
This research supports:
- Evidence-based improvements to firefighter safety, tactics and operational decision-making.
- Risk-informed guidelines for ventilation, suppression, PPE performance and exposure reduction.
- Training tools and analytical methods that help fire services interpret hazards and improve outcomes.
Get Involved & Collaborate
We welcome collaboration with fire departments, industrial fire-safety teams, equipment manufacturers and training organizations. If you’re interested in participating in field experiments, testing gear, contributing to data analytics or developing next-generation training tools, please contact the Fire Research Group at the University of Waterloo.