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Fire station leaders play a significant role in improving the physical fitness of their crews, according to new research involving the University of East London (UEL).
The international study analysed annual fitness testing data from 838 firefighters across 99 fire stations to explore whether the fitness levels of station leaders were linked to the physical readiness of the firefighters they supervised.
Researchers, including Dr Lee Brown from UEL, found that crews led by physically fit captains and lieutenants consistently achieved higher scores in fitness assessments than those without the same leadership example.
The findings also showed that crews with both leadership roles in place performed better than those led by a captain alone, suggesting that a complete leadership structure helps create an environment where healthy habits and regular physical training become part of daily station life.
The research, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, highlights the importance of leadership in building a culture of fitness, rather than focusing solely on individual firefighters’ behaviour.
“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.
“Historically, health and wellbeing initiatives within fire services have focused primarily on individual behaviours. Our research suggests departments looking to improve operational readiness should also consider the influence of individual crews and, importantly, those leading them.”
Dr Lee Brown, Senior Lecturer and Researcher at UEL and co-author of the study.
The findings are expected to influence fire and rescue services across the UK. The research has already been shared with Kent Fire and Rescue Service, presented to the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Fire Brigades Union, and will contribute to an industry white paper on firefighter tactical readiness being developed for the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Lead author Dr Joel Martin said the conversation around firefighter fitness is now shifting from understanding why fitness matters to how organisations can embed it into everyday culture.
He said: “We already have strong evidence that physical fitness is critical for firefighter health, injury prevention and operational 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 behaviours directly, it provides quantitative evidence that leadership fitness is associated with firefighter fitness and highlights the need to better understand how leadership influences the implementation of fitness and wellbeing initiatives.”
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