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The Fire Services Take: Summer 2021
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The Fire Service Take with Gary McCarraher
Z-axis capability increases firefighter safety
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Firefighters risk their lives to save others. Going into a burning building is inherently dangerous, and every precaution must be taken to protect firefighters in their missions.
The future of firefighter safety now includes FirstNet’s vertical location capabilities, which help find firefighters inside multistory buildings. Z-axis capability gives a 3D location for personnel, not just vehicles, so a firefighter’s location can be pinpointed to the height above ground in tall buildings.
Firefighter safety in tall buildings
One of the most challenging and hazardous situations for a firefighter is being disoriented or lost in a burning building. This can happen when firefighters lose visibility due to heavy smoke, get separated from their crew, suffer an injury, or encounter a collapsed structure. While every fire emergency is taxing and unpredictable, fires in multistory buildings take these risks to new heights.
FirstNet’s emerging Z-axis capability will ultimately provide firefighters and incident commanders enhanced situational awareness not available with traditional GPS. In addition to latitude and longitude coordinates, Z-axis provides the vertical location to help locate firefighters to the specific floor of a building.
Locating personnel in extreme heat, smoke, and zero visibility.
In environments of extreme heat, smoke, and zero visibility, the goal of FirstNet’s Z-axis capability is to help locate personnel quickly, efficiently, and without voice prompts.
Z-axis capability provides vertical location using the barometric sensor built into most smartphones. The barometric sensor helps measure the height above terrain, or the elevation in a building or other structure.
Z-axis is a big deal
Chief Harlin McEwen is a founding father of public safety broadband and expert in emergency communications, and he lauds the advent of z-axis location service.
“The Z-axis solution is really exciting, particularly for the fire service. If they’re trapped in a building while fighting a fire and get disoriented and can't find their way out, it's critical that the command structure on the street is able to find them with some kind of expertise,” he said. “Vertical location is something that we've been talking about a long time. The fact that now this solution is available on FirstNet is a big deal.”
Working hand-in-hand with firefighters
The fire service has long advocated for location accuracy and location-based services. My colleagues and I at the FirstNet Authority have heard from the fire service that tracking individual personnel with X, Y, and Z axes will be lifesaving.
As with any emerging technology, z-axis capability is an evolutionary service that will continue to grow to meet public safety’s needs. The beginnings of functional z-axis must be paired with operational 3D mapping in order to use location-based services in immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) environments.
We look forward to working closely with the fire service community to hone this emerging technology for final deployment in fire combat conditions.
Your experience
What are your thoughts about z-axis capability and firefighting? I want to hear from you. Send me an email to share your perspective or ask questions. You can also find me or one of my colleagues from the FirstNet Authority at one of these events:
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We delivered on our promise to public safety to expand coverage with new investments in the FirstNet deployable program. Now, when faced with damaged infrastructure, remote environments, or crowded events, first responders can call on 100+ deployables, including SatCOLTS (satellite cell on light trucks), the new Communications Vehicles, or a Compact Rapid Deployable.
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Using the FirstNet Uplift Request Tool, public safety can temporarily elevate extended primary users like utilities or public works to the same priority level as primary users. When utility workers are restoring services after disaster, their uplifted devices get priority access to network resources so they can coordinate with first responders.
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The FirstNet Authority conducted a wildfire working group to examine how firefighters use FirstNet in wildfire response, and their lessons learned. Our team spoke to several agencies and firefighters told us about real-life communication challenges and successes during wildfire response and came away with five things to know about FirstNet and wildfires.
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At the intersection of STEM and public safety, female innovators are working to make first responders’ jobs easier and more efficient. Our recent podcast showcases three women in STEM as they discuss their experiences and highlight current projects.
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Tech, Innovations, and Hot Topics in Fire Service
Read what we’ve been hearing from public safety in the field about trends and drivers for fire services and emergency communications.*
A new prototype for a firefighter’s helmet has an eye piece that uses augmented-reality to give a clear view of the fire scene even in the harshest of environments. It works using a thermal imaging camera mounted on the helmet to operate hands-free and help a firefighter see through smoke and soot.
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FirstNet Authority Fire Subject Matter Expert Gary McCarraher reflects on his 45 years in fire and EMS and how FirstNet can aid firefighters across the country. Learn more at FirstNet.gov/Fire
Watch the video and read Gary's interview about the evolution of technology and the future of firefighting. |
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Gary McCarraher is the FirstNet Authority Fire Services Subject Matter Expert. Learn more about Gary or email him with your questions. |
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Top photo: Gainesville Fire Rescue in Florida is a 200-person responder agency with specialized teams such as HAZMAT response, urban search and rescue, and advanced emergency medical services. Operating in an urban city while also responding to rural areas means Gainesville Fire Rescue responders need access to secure and reliable communications. The agency tested FirstNet across the county to see the benefits in every aspect of their response.
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*FirstNet Authority may provide hyperlinks for third-party, non-governmental websites in order to offer additional context and added value for our users. FirstNet Authority does not endorse any product or service and is not responsible, nor can it guarantee the validity or timeliness of the content on hyperlinks outside of the federal government. In addition, users may wish to review privacy notices on non-government sites since their information collection practices may differ from ours.
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