The Center for Public Safety Excellence® (CPSE®) Center for Innovation (CPSE CFI) released our fifth Strategic Scan on Data Center Response and Preparedness, which can be downloaded here. 

Data centers are an increasingly important component of the digital economy, but they also create significant challenges for the communities and fire departments that serve them including complex electrical systems, battery energy storage hazards, specialized suppression systems, intensive utility demands, and large-scale development impacts. Data were gathered in July and August of 2026, with the Strategic Scan detailing fire chiefs’ perspectives on preparedness, response capabilities, infrastructure impacts, regulatory considerations, and strategic planning associated with modern data center facilities.

“Because of their rapid growth and the potential impact on fire service response, we thought this was an important topic to address” said CPSE CFI Board President Jim Robinson, CFO, Fire Chief, Greensboro Fire Department, North Carolina. “As data centers continue to expand, we need to be proactive in understanding the emerging risks, operational challenges, and resource demands so we can anticipate what’s ahead and position the fire service to respond safely and effectively.”

This Strategic Scan also marks an important milestone for the CPSE Center for Innovation: it is the first in our series to include an interactive data dashboard alongside the published report. The dashboard allows fire service leaders, policymakers, and researchers to explore the survey results in greater detail by filtering and visualizing the data in ways that are most relevant to their own jurisdictions and planning needs. We believe this added tool reflects our commitment to making actionable research more accessible and practical for the fire and emergency service. The data dashboard can be accessed here.

“I wanted to create a dashboard that provided an interactive way to look at the large amount of data the Scan produced” said Alex Stephenson, Research Chair of the Association of Fire and Emergency Services Analysts, and creator of the dashboard. “The goal was something both comprehensive and user friendly. It was a complex process and a lot of fun to create.”

Results indicate that 23% of respondents already have an operational data center in their service area, and 20% have data centers that are proposed or under review. Additionally, 68% of respondents agree that data center development will require significant changes to fire department planning and preparedness. Facility size and campus scale, complex building layouts, and difficulty de-energizing equipment were identified as the aspects of data center response that create the most operational challenges.

Using the results, the Strategic Scan proposes five actionable takeaways:

  • Conduct a data center–specific risk assessment within your jurisdiction.
  • Engage proactively with data center developers and operators before incidents occur.
  • Invest in specialized training and equipment to address data center hazards.
  • Pursue regulatory clarity and advocate for updated codes and standards.
  • Develop cross-functional partnerships to address infrastructure and community impacts.

 The Strategic Scans are part of our Actionable Research program, where we ask CFAI-accredited agencies and CPC Chief Fire Officer® designees about their approaches to emerging issues. We utilize a panel of progressive, mission-oriented fire chiefs to help us develop survey questions and interpret the results.

A special thank you to the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) for their support of this project.

Download the CPSE CFI Strategic Scan on Data Center Response and Preparedness here.

About CPSE CFI

The CPSE Center for Innovation serves as a catalyst for innovation in the fire and emergency service. A wholly owned 501 (c)(3) nonprofit subsidiary of CPSE, CPSE CFI highlights innovative solutions developed by CPSE-accredited agencies and credentialed professionals and addresses an industry-wide gap in evidence-based decision making. Learn more at https://www.innovationcpse.org