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After 20 years in public safety, I know one thing for certain…our world has changed! The scope of the fire service has expanded significantly, with fire departments facing challenges that go far beyond traditional firefighting. “Change” is the one thing in the fire service that can be so wanted, needed, and desired—and yet is simultaneously fought at every turn. Charles Darwin once said, “It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent; the species that survives is the one most adaptable to change.” As public safety professionals, adaptability is undoubtedly one of our strengths, and the ever-evolving threat landscape of tomorrow requires change. It requires a new approach that takes departments beyond traditional training, tools, and equipment. When it comes to incidents of active shooters, violent situations, and even acts of terrorism, the focus is clear: move from a reactive to a proactive approach, build strong interagency relationships, enhance training, develop joint response policies and protocols to respond to active threat incidents swiftly and cohesively, and beyond all else…embrace the change!
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On the Front Foot
Throughout my years of training as a firefighter and law enforcement officer, I have learned that action is always faster than reaction. In proactive fire departments, taking swift action always outpaces reaction, ensuring members stay one step ahead in protecting lives. A proactive fire department brings significant advantages to improving preparedness for active threat incidents. Focusing on prevention, preparation, and collaboration, a proactive approach allows the department to respond quickly and effectively, reducing potential harm. Proactive departments also invest the time and resources to train personnel in scenarios involving active threats. This includes specialized training and drills in tactical emergency casualty care (TECC), rescue task force (RTF) operations, and unified command. It is proven that prepared personnel operate more effectively under pressure. Establishing unified command structures, communications, and response procedures before an emergency ensures that each responding agency knows its respective roles and responsibilities during an active threat. This all plays a significant role in reducing confusion and delays, ensuring a seamless and coordinated response.
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Coordination Among Public Safety Agencies
This coordination effectively uses the strengths and resources of both agencies, and, by fostering interagency relationships, fire departments can ensure they are part of a cohesive and well-prepared team. So, where do we begin to build this relationship? The first step is to initiate formal and informal communication channels between fire and police departments, with points of contact in each agency who are encouraged to maintain regular dialogue. This communication will help break down barriers and allow each department to understand the other’s roles, responsibilities, specialties, and protocols. However, these relationships and communication are needed at all levels, from operations to command. Scheduling meetings with leadership and operations personnel from both departments to discuss mutual goals, challenges, and areas of collaboration can maximize the agencies’ potential. For instance, a police department is wanting to expand its water-based response and patrol within its jurisdiction where the fire department already has a well-trained and equipped water rescue team. If these two agencies do not have a good working relationship and never communicate, there will undoubtedly be a duplication of resources and costs, missed joint training opportunities, a lack of joint operational policies, and unknown capabilities and responsibilities during water-based responses. But with strong interagency relationships there are open doors, whether through training opportunities, equipment, or funding. By pooling resources, agencies can afford more advanced equipment, technology, and training that individually would be beyond reach.
The Value of Training
On a foundation of positive interagency relationships, training is the next essential building block in preparing for an active threat response. However, it can be challenging to train for tomorrow’s threats with the tools and mindset of yesteryear. “Training for tomorrow” means equipping firefighters today with the skills, technology, and necessary equipment to meet the complexities and potential dangers they may face. To increase skills and confidence in active threat response, departments should conduct integrated training exercises that put responders in realistic, high-stress situations. This will increase responder proficiency, awareness, and safety while strengthening the overall emergency response system on day-to-day operations. Along with the proper training, departments need the right tools to respond effectively to active threats. Many departments are equipping their teams with ballistic vests and helmets, tourniquets, and trauma kits to provide emergency care in high-risk zones. Tactical vehicles, fortified ambulances, and portable communication systems are becoming common equipment for faster and safer responses.
In today’s unpredictable world, as threats continue to evolve, we cannot wait for tragedy to drive our policy changes. We must change our policies to prepare for tragedy. We must continue to evolve our approach to active threats, setting a new standard of preparedness that prioritizes not only our safety but also the well-being of the communities we serve. By building strong interagency relationships, enhanced training, and investing in critical equipment, we are taking a proactive stance that may one day save lives. This commitment and dedication means that, should the unthinkable occur, we will be ready to face it—together, as one public safety team, with one purpose!
Mark Litwinko is a 20-year veteran with the Fort Wayne (IN) Fire Department. Litwinko serves as investigator and law enforcement officer for the Fire/Arson Investigations Division. Litwinko also serves as tactical medic with Fort Wayne (IN) Police Departments Emergency Services Team.
