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The Fire Services Take: Fall 2021
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The Fire Service Take with Gary McCarraher
Envisioning future tech for the fire service
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Looking to the future of FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband network, my colleagues and I want to know what technologies will help the fire service to save lives and protect property. By envisioning new fire service technologies, we can help evolve FirstNet to support firefighters’ communication needs.
Communications today and tomorrow
In the coming year, my FirstNet Authority colleagues and I will embark on a listening tour to understand how technology can help the fire service carry out their lifesaving mission.
Our job is to work with the fire services community to ensure FirstNet is delivering services to assist them with their jobs. We are here to listen. The FirstNet Authority seeks feedback from first responders about their communication needs today and in the future.
Your vision for future tech
We have already seen tremendous innovations in public safety broadband communications, such as z-axis location and biometric sensing, that improve situational awareness. Yet, the smartphone of today may not be the right device to capitalize on these new and emerging technologies for the fire service. Smartphones are challenging to use with gloved hands and difficult to see in dark, smoky environments.
We want to hear from fire experts about what form new technologies should take. How would you design the hardware and the display? What is the size, shape, and arrangement of your ideal device?
Real-life inspiration from fiction
One source of inspiration is from the fictional world of movies and comics. Think about that superhero who puts on a metal robotic suit and all the information needed is projected on a heads-up display. It’s powered by artificial intelligence connected to every different technology he uses, and it analyzes massive amounts of data in real-time to assess his surroundings and predict threats.
While this superhero’s suit might live only in a fictional world, some of these capabilities are possible for firefighters and other first responders – our real-life heroes. The internet of things, artificial intelligence, and 5G offer advanced capabilities that quickly gather and present data to improve situational awareness and safety for first responders.
Tech for top ten types of fire calls
To jumpstart brainstorming, think of the top ten types of fire calls that you respond to on a routine basis. Whether it’s a call for a brush fire, a vehicle fire, or a building fire, what type of information do you need for that call? What type of device would best give you that information?
For example, a firefighter may want to know the temperature of a vehicle fire because certain engine materials burn hotter than others, which offers a clue for the type of extinguishing agent to use. Or a handsfree thermal imaging camera could help detect if there is an occupant in the vehicle.
Investing in the future
At the FirstNet Authority, we work to ensure that FirstNet evolves to meet the needs of public safety, and one way we do that is by investing in future capabilities for the network. Over the next 20 years, the FirstNet Authority will direct billions of dollars to evolve FirstNet to enhance communications for first responders.
That’s why we want to hear from you. What technologies would benefit the fire service? Let’s discuss. Send me an email or find me or one of my colleagues at these events:
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FirstNet’s Z-axis capability gives first responders 3D location information not available with traditional GPS. In addition to latitude and longitude coordinates, Z-axis provides altitude data to vertically locate first responders in tall buildings.
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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.*
After Colorado’s record wildfire season last year, the state is deploying new technology as part of their arsenal of wildland firefighting tools. Some of the new tech includes advanced aerial reconnaissance and real-time location services. Researchers are also testing prototypes of a self-driving, all-terrain vehicle to deliver supplies and a robot to replace firefighters in dangerous scenarios.
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FirstNet's dedicated fleet of deployables provides coverage and capacity to public safety at no cost to FirstNet subscribers. FirstNet deployables have supported hundreds of operations, including wildfires, hurricanes, search and rescue, large crowds, and flooding.
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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: First responders in Tioga County, including the MIddlebury Township Fire Department, are getting another major boost in their wireless communications thanks to the FirstNet network expansion currently underway by AT&T.
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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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