Cookeville Fire Department is using new data-driven tools to reduce fire risk during Community Risk Reduction Week.
Cookeville Fire Department lieutenant Jon Dukes said the department recently adopted a new national data tracking system to better understand when, where, and why fires happen. Dukes said the approach combines local reporting with state-level data to guide prevention efforts across the community.
“Cookeville Fire Department uses a data tracking program that has recently been updated called the National Emergency Response Information System, or NERS as we like to call it for short,” Dukes said. “We also utilize a lot of the state fire marshal’s data, and we piggyback the two to create our plan and our data system.”
The system tracks fire types, time of day, and building occupancy to identify patterns that may increase risk. That information allows firefighters to visualize trends and target prevention efforts more precisely.
“So we do a lot of fire tracking, like fire types, what time of day it is, and the occupancy type of the building that fire was in,” Dukes said. “We can look at a chart and say this is the area, this is the occupancy type, and this is the time of day.”
The department also includes demographic and location data to identify neighborhoods with higher risk. Dukes said the system is still new, so long-term trends are still developing.
“This system for us is so new that we don’t have a lot of data inputted into it yet to say we see a decrease or increase in certain areas,” Dukes said. “However, we know with the use of it, it’s going to be successful once all the data is transferred and allowed to do its work.”
Dukes said proactive planning and rapid response remain critical even as data tools improve. He said seconds matter when protecting lives and property.
“In my line of work, every second counts, and those seconds could be the difference in life or death,” Dukes said. “Swift action can contain a fire before it spreads and help protect the structural integrity of a building.”
Education also plays a key role in reducing emergencies. Dukes said informed communities consistently experience fewer fire-related incidents.
“An educated resident is more likely to have a practiced evacuation plan and functioning smoke alarms,” Dukes said. “That knowledge on the front end helps us on the back end when professional help is called.”