Strategy
&Â Support
Partnering with 4th Alarm Consulting means gaining a principled advocate for your organization’s safety. We leverage decades of seasoned expertise to translate complex regulatory landscapes into clear, actionable risk assessments. Rather than focusing on checklists, we prioritize informed decision-making and human life safety above all. We serve as a strategic bridge between technical requirements and operational reality, empowering our clients to navigate high-stakes environments with complete confidence and integrity.
Our Principles
Protect People
Our primary directive is protecting what matters most: the lives of the people within your facilities. Every strategy is engineered with human safety as the absolute priority.
Act Ethically
We are committed to doing the right thing. Our ethical approach ensures unbiased safety assessments and recommendations that reflect the highest professional standards.
Clarify the Risk
We empower clients to understand complex life safety issues, enabling them to effectively mitigate risks and maintain secure, compliant facilities.
Encourage Diligence
Remaining diligent over time requires exceptional support. We provide ongoing technical guidance to ensure your protective systems stay fully operational and effective.
Our Founders
Michelle and Andrew Rice founded 4th Alarm Consulting LLC in 2026 with a shared commitment to service, education, and helping organizations create safer environments through practical, technically sound fire protection and life safety solutions.
Michelle Rice
Co-Founder,
President
Michelle leverages her background in education and operations to lead 4th Alarm Consulting with professional wisdom and steady patience. While guiding the firm’s strategic growth, she also remains dedicated to raising their four children—Ella, Luke, Adalyn, and Nathan. This blend of leadership and poise ensures our clients receive thoughtful, expert-level direction in every safety endeavor.
Andrew Rice
Co-Founder,
VP, Operations
Andrew is a professor in EKU’s Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology (FPSET) program and holds multiple fire protection degrees from the university. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Fire Protection at Oklahoma State University, he blends nearly twenty years of field experience with academic insight. Andrew is dedicated to providing friendly, expert guidance that keeps your organization safe and compliant.
In the fire service, a “fourth alarm” signals that a major incident has escalated and demands additional resources, expertise, and coordination. For us, the number four also carries a deep personal meaning, reflecting on the importance of family and honoring our four children. 4th Alarm Consulting embodies both our passion for the fire protection industry and our commitment to step in when challenges grow complex—before they escalate into critical emergencies.