Case Study: Bucket Brigade Public Private Partnership

Challenge

While firefighters may not be strictly law enforcement officers, in the context of fireworks, fire departments do have a regulatory role and message. Moreover, there has been a long-standing tension between the fireworks industry and firefighters related to the use of personal fireworks on the Fourth of July. The industry wanted to let people know about legal fireworks. Fire officials want people to not burn down their house.

About

The Bucket Brigade was a public-private partnership between State Fire Safety & Control and the pyrotechnics industry. It’s goal was to address the challenge of promoting the safe and legal use of fireworks while preventing fire-related incidents. The initiative brought together three fireworks companies, multiple fire departments, and the State Division of Fire Prevention and Control in a collaborative effort to engage the community.

Solution

Novitas developed the concept of a Fireworks Bucket Brigade, building a coalition that included three fireworks companies, multiple fire departments, and the State Division of Fire Prevention and Control to spread a community engagement message about “joining the team” to not only dispose of fireworks properly but to spread the word to others. Novitas facilitated a partnership between the fireworks industry and fire departments concerning proper use and disposal of legal fireworks. Additionally, Novitas worked to bring additional law enforcement into the coalition.

Results

Ultimately, the campaign earned almost 90 million online media impressions, multiple local television and radio pickups, and even a mention on local news in Montana. All of the coalition partners were pleased with the results, and we will very likely renew the campaign on an even wider scale next year. Coincidentally, we were also pleased to have Camp Spark volunteers – whose mission is to encourage young women to become firefighters – participate in our Fireworks Bucket Brigade press conference, resulting in even more positive stories about a career in uniform.

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If you have an urgent crisis and would like to reach our crisis response team, please call our office at (202) 380-7114. Otherwise, reach out for more information on how we can help your organization achieve its goals.

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