A new international study has found that fire station leaders play a significant role in improving the physical fitness of the firefighters they supervise.
The research, conducted by academics in the US in collaboration with Dr Lee Brown from the University of East London (UEL), examined annual fitness testing data from 838 firefighters across 99 fire stations.
Leadership influences performance
Published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the study explored whether the fitness levels of station captains and lieutenants were associated with the physical readiness of their crews.
Researchers found that firefighters working under fit, actively engaged captains and lieutenants achieved noticeably higher scores in physical readiness tests than those working under less engaged leadership.
The findings also showed that crews led by a captain without a lieutenant recorded significantly lower results, suggesting that a complete leadership structure helps foster healthier routines and stronger fitness cultures.
Co-author of the report, Dr Lee Brown, Senior Lecturer and Researcher at UEL, said: “These findings align with the concept of ‘leading from the front’.
“When station leaders actively maintain their fitness and participate in training alongside their crews, it helps establish shared standards of readiness and reinforce a culture of wellness.
“While in the past health and wellness interventions in fire services primarily focused on individual behaviours, the research suggests that departments looking to improve operational readiness should consider targeting the individual crews and those leading them.”
Supporting future firefighter readiness
The researchers believe the findings could have a practical impact across the fire and rescue sector.
The study has been shared with Kent Fire and Rescue Service, presented to the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Fire Brigades Union, and will contribute to the development of an industry White Paper on firefighter tactical readiness for the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Dr Joel Martin, lead author of the study, said: “We already have strong evidence that physical fitness is critical for firefighter health, injury prevention, and occupational performance.
“The challenge has shifted from understanding why fitness matters to understanding how departments can successfully build and sustain a culture of fitness.
“Our findings suggest that the crew environment and leadership may be important pieces of that puzzle and provide a new direction for implementing fitness initiatives within the fire service.
“I’ve repeatedly heard that crew culture and the attitudes of company officers play an important role in whether physical training becomes part of the daily routine.
“While our study did not measure those behaviors directly, it provides quantitative evidence that leadership fitness is associated with firefighter fitness and highlights the need to better understand how leadership influences implementation of fitness and wellness initiatives.”
