Fire Protection Engineering

WPI: The National Leader in Fire Protection Engineering

First master’s program in the U.S. 45 years of expertise.

Home to the first master’s program and one of only three fire protection engineering (FPE) graduate programs in the nation, the Fire Protection Engineering Department at WPI has driven significant cutting-edge research, developed real-world solutions through its state-of-the-art fire laboratories, and graduated highly trained, influential, in-demand experts.

Our internationally renowned faculty members are recognized for cutting-edge research and teaching focused on making the world safer by tackling challenging questions about fire behavior and our response to it. Students work alongside them in state-of-the-art facilities to gain and create knowledge that informs and shapes regulatory policy, building design, manufacturing processes, first responder operations, and product performance standards.

As our world continues to adapt to the effects of severe weather impacts, particularly with a surge in wildfires, there’s a renewed need for professionals who understand fires develop solutions to protect communities and firefighters.

3 logos on a white background, the wildfire interdisciplinary research center, san jose state university, and the NSF.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a proud partner of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center (WIRC), a collaboration between universities and industry. Supported by a three-year, $450,000 grant with additional direct funding from industry partners, WPI builds upon its longstanding expertise in fire protection and works with San Jose State University to study fire and smoke behavior, fire ignition, fire impact at the Wildland-Urban Interface, as well as new fire detection methods, robotics solutions to enhance first responder safety, and fire suppression systems for wildfires. Please visit the Wildfire Center’s website for additional details.

WPI is at the forefront of fire protection engineering research, advancing life-saving innovations in fire dynamics, safety systems, and resilient building design to protect communities worldwide.

A Tiered System for Fire Shelter Development and Standardization

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is developing the first national standard for fire shelters in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zones through an innovative tiered system approach. Led by Profs. Albert Simeoni and Reza Ziazi, the project addresses critical gaps in wildfire protection by creating three shelter categories—ranging from short-term refuge (Tier 1) to extended critical infrastructure protection (Tier 3)—tailored to specific operational needs and fire scenarios. Postdoctoral fellow Raphael Ogabi leads the fire dynamics simulations, providing essential data to assess and optimize shelter performance. In collaboration with NIST and CAL-FIRE, the team integrates these simulations with advanced fire modeling (FDS) and high-performance computing, while also building future partnerships to enhance experimental design. The methodology combines Hazard Mitigation Methodology (HMM) and Fire Protection Engineering (FPE) to develop shelters that balance fire exposure management with structural resilience. This effort aims to establish a national standard that enhances public safety and strengthens community resilience in fire-prone WUI areas. Please visit the WUI Shelters website for more information.

IN THE NEWS

WPI Leads the Way in Wildfire Research

The devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area exemplify the dangers of wind-driven fires in inhabited areas. WPI’s research, which involves faculty and ongoing experiments conducted by students in a state-of-the-art wind tunnel on campus, was featured by several media outlets including The Associated Press, The Boston Globe, WCVB, NBC 10 Boston, NECN, The New York Times, and Spectrum News 1.

Degree is also offered online.

Area of Study	Minor	Certificate	Master	PhD
Fire Protection Engineering	minor	certificate	master	phd
This degree is also offered Online.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Students and faculty have access to facilities that are unmatched in academia—including a lab where researchers can conduct large-scale burns up to a two-story building.

Explore Our Facilities

45 Years of Engineering Excellence

With more than 1,000 alumni across the world, WPI’s FPE program has grown into a thriving graduate program with a robust research agenda and strong industry partnerships.

Read the Story

Alumni Transforming Fire Safety

Danielle Antonellis sees fire protection as an engineering—and socioeconomic—issue. During the pandemic, she founded a nonprofit to protect vulnerable communities from fire risk.

Read Story in the WPI Journal

See Our State-of-the-Art Facilities

FPE Faculty and student researchers have access to facilities that are unmatched in academia—including the Performance Engineering Laboratory at Gateway Park, where researchers can conduct large-scale burns up to a two-story building.

View More about Facilities

Spotlight on Engineering: Urban Fire Research Group

James Urban, assistant professor in fire protection engineering, researches advances in wildland fire, visual-based fire protection, and fundamental fire phenomenon. His team is especially skilled at finding low-cost ways to measure fire and provide collaborators access to state-of-the-art fire labs, easily allowing for multi-scale experiments.

Media Coverage

See More Media Coverage

A High-Demand Career Path

The demand for fire protection engineers continues to grow, providing nearly unlimited career opportunities for WPI FPE graduates. Our alumni are highly sought after and can be found working as consultants, at fire protection equipment manufacturers, and in government, the insurance industry, research laboratories, and more. Their jobs have taken them from the South Pole to Alaskan pipelines, Disney World, and beyond.

Avoiding Costly Losses Due to Fire

This white paper, written by FPE professor of practice Milosh Puchovsky, introduces the profession of fire protection engineering and explores the many roles fire protection engineers play in helping organizations mitigate fire and explosion threats.

Download the white paper

From the University Magazine

Fire Safety for Lithium Ion Battery Energy Storage Systems (ESS)

ESS facilities pose unique challenges as they can result in fast developing fires of significant heat release. Through a radiation heat transfer analysis, separation distances are examined. The results can inform the development of standardized spacing practices based on associated energy capacity and container size.

Download the report

Advance with the BS/MS Dual Degree Program

Fast-track your education and career with the BS/MS program by earning a dual degree―an accelerated academic pathway to both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. Saving both time and money while building advanced knowledge and skills could help you stand out in today’s competitive job market. Discover more about the BS/MS program and your options to earn a BS/MS dual degree at the links below. 

FAQs about the BS/MS program BS/MS program academic catalog information

WPI: The National Leader in Fire Protection Engineering

First master’s program in the U.S. 45 years of expertise.

A Tiered System for Fire Shelter Development and Standardization

WPI Leads the Way in Wildfire Research

Areas of Study