The world of firefighting is rapidly changing. Seemingly every day, novel technologies emerge with the potential to transform how fire departments operate and interact with the communities they serve.

To that end, here are four tools and technologies that fire departments can deploy to modernize their approach toward emergency response.

#1 Firefighting Robots

Some fire situations are too volatile for even trained firefighters to handle safely. For instance, in 2020, an explosion in downtown L.A. caused a major fire that left 11 firefighters severely injured.

In response, the Los Angeles Fire Department turned to robots to go where humans simply could not. Later in the year, they unveiled the Robotics System 3 (RS3), a remote-controlled, hose-equipped, firefighting drone capable of outputting 2,500 gallons of water or foam per minute.

Put simply, machines—even expensive ones—are expendable. But the lives of your firefighters are not.

#2 Personnel Accountability Management Systems (PAMS)

When an incident arises, emergency response commanders are responsible for all personnel and equipment on the scene. In the name of accountability, they need to know what resources are available, who's deployed, where they are, and their current safety status.

That's where a fire department dispatch app comes in.

Fire department dispatch systems are the next frontier in firefighter accountability. This allows response teams to monitor a scene in real-time while also assisting with all three phases of emergency response, including:

  • Pre-incident preparedness
  • Response phase
  • Incident mitigation

Armed with this firehouse response software, a fire department can foster effective end-to-end accountability.

#3 VR Training

Although a firefighter will undergo comprehensive training, sometimes that's no substitute for the real thing. On-the-job experience is often far more valuable. But that means they need to be in dangerous situations, which exposes everyone to risk.

However, there are now VR solutions that create an immersive simulation of real blaze or emergency incidents. This echoes the hazardous and high-stakes experience of firefighting without putting raw recruits into situations they may not yet be ready to handle.

#4 Social Media Community Relations

Fire departments rely on local and state governments to fund their efforts and enlist new recruits. But if they want to ensure that they have the resources they require, they must stay top of mind of the people within their community. And yet, fire departments often fail to take purposeful actions toward increasing their visibility and conveying their continued relevance.

Put simply, is your community aware of the good you're doing?

One of the best ways you can promote such efforts is through the fire department's social media. Regularly posting on social media platforms can be used to:

  • Educate the community on safety issues
  • Highlight firefighters' bravery
  • Laud your department's actions
  • Share news stories of emergency responses

IMT—On the Forefront of Fire Department Innovation

With every passing year, new technology and digital tools emerge, each with the potential to change the way fire departments operate for the better. By embracing these modernizations, fire teams can become more effective at their job while also reducing the threat their first responders face.

At IMT, that's our mission—to provide innovative tools that your department can deploy to change the status quo.

Interested in seeing what a fire accountability app and system could do for you? Schedule a demo today.

 

Sources:

Los Angeles Times. 11 firefighters hurt in downtown L.A. explosion that caused fires at several buildings. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-16/explosion-in-downtown-l-a-leaves-multiple-buildings-on-fire

Fire Rescue 1. Meet RS3, LAFD's firefighting robot. https://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/technology/articles/video-meet-rs3-lafds-firefighting-robot-gmRvNIuevL5iClVj/