As we head to Charleston, SC, for the inaugural FireFusion conference (Nov. 5–7), I reflect on the past year and how it provided me with an eye-opening and thought-provoking look at technology in the fire service. It isn’t just the innovations that are deployed currently or that are in beta testing but what can be brought from the military or other spaces into the fire service, too.
I’m excited for the program that we will put on for FireFusion this year but, more importantly, to also grow and enhance Firehouse’s coverage of technology in the fire service into the future because of the rapid growth in true and usable innovation that exists today.
Over the summer, I met with FireFusion speaker Battalion Chief Andy Bozzo. He and I talked about how, with phones on rigs, the jumpseat firefighter could use a mapping or CAD app to get the driver to the scene or to look for a live view of what’s happening at the incident address, while the officer reviews call notes, building specifications and hydrant locations on mobile technology. He explained how mobile and connectivity technology is being used “under the radar” by many and said that it’s time to bring these things mainstream to help today’s firefighters on the fireground.
Last month, I was having lunch with a friend who’s a longtime fire protection engineer, and we talked about the various topics in the fire service that happened over the years: technical rescue in the 1980s, hazmat in the 90s, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction with a reemphasis on technical rescue following the 9/11 terror attacks. He wondered aloud what the “it” topic is today, and we agreed that the focus has been on the safety of firefighters, although there hasn’t been a tactical “it” topic that has resonated over the past decade.
My belief is that technology has been percolating. Many of the technology-based solutions that are coming to the fire service are being brought by the rank-and-file of the fire service, such as Bozzo, who founded Tablet Command after his department suffered the loss of two firefighters who were trying to effect a rescue in a house fire. Bozzo knew more could be done to prevent LODDs and began a journey to bring incident command to today’s level.
When fire prevention and fire sprinklers went mainstream, firefighters were concerned that they would be put out of a job. That didn’t happen, and that won’t happen with technology either. However, technology will help firefighters to take on the next unknown that they are called to mitigate via the ability to have access to information at their fingertips.
I’ve met countless manufacturers, startups and think tanks that are involved in various technology organizations that are within the fire service and have observed how many offerings work. Technology provides an exciting new means of education, situational awareness, intelligence and records management and many new tools for the toolbox through the innovation of the cloud.
Those who used buckets during George Washington’s era would shoot down the concept of red lines and 1¾-inch, 2-inch, 2¼-inch and 2½-inch hoselines because of the staffing that’s needed to operate them or the unavailability of sufficient pump pressure. They would balk at thermal imaging cameras and accountability systems, but decades of use have shown the benefits.
The loud gongs in fire stations are being replaced with ramp-up alerting systems—or wearable alerting technologies—that are just as effective and increase members’ health and longevity.
No human operation is perfect, nor are any of these technologies, but they shouldn’t be overlooked or looked down upon. Technology is here, it’s improving, and we’re excited to spread the word as it evolves and expands.
