Burning Curiosity Inspires a Career in Fire Safety

How can there still be so much to learn about a force as timeless and elemental as fire? It turns out there is quite a lot still to discover.

Scientists like Brittany Brown ('17, '20) study fire dynamics and behavior, forensic investigation, suppression and management, the impact of climate change and fire ecology, such as ecosystem recovery and human factors, including education, prevention, urban planning and public safety.

This range of considerations is daunting, and Brown has been involved in almost every facet of fire science. She continues to build a career on understanding and mitigating risks, which led to her current role as chief of fire prevention in South Adams County, Colorado. The county is the fifth largest in the state, with about 500,000 residents.

She launched her career as a mechanic in the United States Air Force.

“I loved fixing things, and I loved flying. While I was in the Air Force, I fixed C-130s, and being a crew chief meant learning all systems — communications, navigation, propulsion, radar. You get to know the airplane really well,” she recalls.

Advancement Through Education

This deep mechanical knowledge led her to pursue multiple degrees at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, including a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Maintenance focused on management and aviation safety, followed by a Master's in Systems Engineering. She brought these perspectives together to investigate aircraft accidents, which then led to her interest in fire science.

“I was looking to specialize in survivability and crashworthiness, which has a lot to do with fire. However, I quickly realized that not enough airplanes catch fire to get a good grasp of how fire works.”

Her curiosity and dedication to understanding fire behavior propelled her into a career in fire safety, spanning firefighting, administrative positions and investigative work. She has a particular passion for forensic fire investigation, which led her to earn a doctorate in forensics from Oklahoma State University this year. The degree is technically designated “AEFTI” — arson, explosives, firearms and tool marks.

“We're always trying to figure out the root cause: How did this happen?” she emphasizes, reflecting the scientific rigor she brings to her work. “You need to figure out where your fire started. My first several years in the fire service, I was a fire investigator. That's why my Ph.D. is in forensics. We do a lot of post-mishap investigation analysis.”

A Career as Chief of Fire Prevention

Today, Brown oversees a fire prevention bureau, where her role encompasses development review, code compliance, public education and fire investigations. She ensures that new buildings meet stringent fire safety standards and educates the public on fire risks and prevention.

“Most people never think a fire will happen to them,” she notes. “They don't understand that something as simple as plugging too many things into an extension cord can cause a fire or know that smoke alarms double your chance of surviving a home fire. Awareness is crucial.”

Her efforts also extend to large-scale advocacy. Recently, she was in Washington, D.C., advocating on Capitol Hill for better fire safety measures and policies. “I love addressing public policy on a national level,” she says. “Here’s what we can do, here’s what we can fix. It's all about education. No one knows what they don't know until it becomes relevant to them.”

Looking to the future, Brown hopes to one day influence national standards and protect both firefighters and the public through innovative research and policy advocacy.

“I love research. This is a problem. Here’s how we fix it. And then I love pushing that agenda and getting buy-in. My work is all about protecting firefighters, protecting citizens and being on that cutting edge.”

The impact of climate change is a growing area of exploration. Brown notes, “Climate change may be increasing wildfire risks due to higher temperatures and atmospheric shifts, but much more research is needed to understand its full impact and then apply what we learn.”

In a career marked by an ongoing pursuit of knowledge and a deep commitment to safety, Brown has become a respected figure in the fire science community. Her work ensures that communities are not only better prepared to handle fire-related incidents but also that such incidents are less likely to occur in the first place.

Does she immediately assess the fire safety of any building she walks into? She admits she does. And it’s not a bad habit for the rest of us to adopt.