What Happened?
Local fire departments across the country are experimenting with new technology and tools to improve delivery of services and protect firefighters in emergency situations.
Hanover
The Hanover Fire Department in Pennsylvania is purchasing iPads and emergency responder software to increase communication and mobility out in the field. Currently, the fire department’s trucks have computers in them to connect firefighters with dispatchers and information when responding to an emergency call. These computers, however, are in need of upgrades to keep pace with the firefighters on the scene, Evening Sun reported.
The iPads and corresponding software will replace the stationary computers in the fire trucks and synch up with the department’s responding software Active911. Leveraging the iPads, firefighters will have access to more information when alerted to a call to better prepare for the emergency. Dispatchers will be able to send firefighters key data including:
- Origin of the call
- Type of call
- Equipment needed
Furthermore, the iPads can be used to locate the nearest fire hydrant, identify the best response route and determine who is responding to the call on the scene or at the station. The technology will be purchased with a $14,000 grant administered through the state Fire Commission, Evening Sun reported.
Rochester
The Rochester Fire Department in New Hampshire recently received a $270,000 Assistance to Firefighter Grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The fire department will use the federal funding to purchase 42 state-of-the-art air packs that allow firefighters to breathe when entering toxic environments, Fosters reported.
The new air packs will cost an estimated $300,000, with the remaining $30,000 provided by the city of Rochester. The innovative air packs are used during general firefighting and rescue operations. Each air pack provides firefighters with a primary air bottle and a spare, each equipped with a 30-minute air supply. The air packs will be safety and reliability upgrades of 12-year-old air packs used previously, Evening Sun reported.
Prescott
Federal officials recently asked the Prescott Fire Department in Arizona to test a military-grade communication and tracking system that would aid responders during wildfires. Because wildfires are widespread, it can be difficult for firefighters to locate one another on the scene. The Prescott Fire Department is testing the Fire Line Advanced Situational Awareness for Handhelds (FLASH) system developed by the U.S. Department of Defense to assist with Navy SEALS operations, KTAR reported.
The FLASH system utilizes radios, handheld tablet computers and air-mounted sensors to turn a wildfire scene into a battlefield scenario. The technology allows firefighters on the scene to track fire locations and coordinate with other units on how best to combat the fires. Using maps and real-time data, fire teams can be more efficient and strategic in their approach, which will improve safety, KTAR reported.
Littleton
The Littleton Fire Department in Colorado recently invested in drone technology to improve firefighter safety as well as overall performance. The drone will be used to help the department monitor first responders in the field while collecting key information that could aid investigators in determining how a fire began, Fox 31 Denver reported.
The drone is equipped with a small camera collecting video footage that can be reviewed once the fire is out. Because the drone is able to capture images and video of a fire scene from the sky, fire departments can use the devices to see key details – such as burn patterns – that can be difficult to identify on the ground, Fox 31 Denver reported.
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