Community Risk Reduction (CRR) is a data-driven process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by an  integrated and strategic investment of resources to reduce their occurrence and impact. The framework of what was previously considered “public-education” or "public relations" still remains, but has been built upon using solid community risk reduction principles. The NTFD CRR approach is based on the five (5) E’s: Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Emergency Response and Economic Incentive. 

The goal of our Community Risk Reduction program is to minimize the risk of life and property loss through proactive planning, education, awareness, and enforcement of safe fire practices. Fire prevention provides a comprehensive fire/life safety plan review for land development, new building construction, interior remodel projects, and fire protection systems including fire suppression and fire alarm systems. 

Fire inspections 
Inspections include complaint, annual, certificate of occupancy, building renovations or modifications, fire protection system acceptance testing, open burning, construction, tents and special events. We conduct inspections on mandatory items, such as new construction, fire protection system testing, etc.

Pre-Incident Planning 
The pre-incident planning program provides responding firefighters with additional knowledge and information to improve decision-making and save lives. Pre-incident planning involves visiting the site and taking photos of the layout, gathering maps and diagrams and updating contact information. These plans provide responding crews with up-to-date structure information including construction type, presence of hazardous materials, fire protection systems, hydrant locations and hoselay distances. As of the end of 2020, more than 96% of commercial structures in Northville Township have a completed pre-plan with the remaining structures in progress.

Fire Origin and Cause Investigation 
The Fire Department has three members trained as fire investigators. Fire investigations determine the origin and cause of a fire to help identify common fire causes and hazards, provide community education and to determine arson. Fire investigators are contacted on large fires, fires of an unknown origin, fires with a high-value loss and fires involving injury and/or death. The fire investigator documents all aspects of the investigation via photographs, scene diagrams, witness statements, and interviews and/or audio/video tapes. Documentation of these incidents by responding crews in the National Fire Incident Reporting System and by fire investigators helps to mitigate hazardous conditions throughout the community. The primary goal of fire investigations is to identify the cause of an incident and to mitigate these incidents through the engineering, enforcement and community education. 

Community Engagement and Education 
The impact of COVID-19 on department operations and services was felt in our community education and engagement efforts. Public education is the backbone of community risk reduction and has been a focal point over the last few years. Public education programs include individual events such as station or truck tours, Boy/Girl Scout groups and individual classes or programs. Over the last five years, the Department has focused our education programs to meet the needs of the community. We have refocused efforts on the annual open house (more than 1,000 attendees annually) and the development and implementation of the NHS Hands-Only CPR and AED Program and the Kindergarten Fire and Life Safety Program. To date we have trained over 2,100 NHS students in CPR and AED use and reached almost 1,700 kindergarten students with fire and life safety education.

The latter programs provide Northville students and families with important fire and life safety information. This partnership with Northville Public Schools (NPS) is critical to the success of these programs. The department has developed the curriculum to make the program implementation as easy as possible for the staff. The district assists with curriculum delivery and communication with both the students and families. This program is incorporated into the annual district curriculum and has been very well received. This partnership has reinforced the importance of fire and life safety education into the fabric of the community.