Technology and the Future of Firefighting
Innovations in firefighting technology are enhancing fire department capabilities to improve protection for people, property, and public safety. Drones, thermal imaging, and the remote Internet of Things (IoT) are advancing a high-tech, professional approach to fighting fires.
Firefighting drones
You’ve probably heard the hype about delivery drones, but it may surprise you to learn drones are already deployed for firefighting. With the number of annual U.S. wildfires climbing every year, drones, aka unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are making a more prominent appearance on the front lines of firefighting. Drones give coordinators on the ground a holistic view of fires across regions. Teams can view blazes from multiple vantage points and find new fires before they spread. Drones are also used to locate missing people and firefighting teams during wildfire response operations.
Wildfires can spread rapidly, but drones can get ahead of the wind currents to inform firefighting strategies and save lives. They capture photos or video to aid arson investigations, and when used with topography and mapping software, drones help investigators determine the cause of fires.
And this can all be done remotely without additional risk to drone operators or firefighting teams.
Thermal imaging in firefighting
In 2019, the Los Angeles Fire Department became the largest municipal first responder to leverage thermal imaging cameras for every on-duty firefighter. These units, each the size of a smartphone, allow firefighters to quickly scan for signs of life during search and rescue missions, and identify hot spots for more effective fire control during a crisis. Thermal imaging cameras are deployed in a variety of emergencies, including hazardous material releases, building fires, wildfires, and car accidents.
Thermal imaging helps first responders cut through the smoke to monitor the spread of a fire. It’s easy for firefighters to get disoriented during a large industrial fire and lose track of the exit. A thermal imaging camera can enhance the view of a doorway, allowing the first responder to get out safely.
Cameras can be mounted on drones for a bird’s-eye view of a scene, which allows firefighters to visualize heat sources. UAV-mounted thermal imaging cameras can cover wide swaths of forests to enhance visibility during nighttime search and rescue missions.
According to one fire captain, this new, mobile technology is so valuable that “just as every firefighter has a flashlight and a radio, every firefighter will soon have a thermal imaging camera.”
IoT remote sensors in firefighting
In 2021, there were more than 10 billion Internet of Things devices live and online. IoT tools use remote sensors to send signals over the internet. There are IoT applications in just about every field, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is testing remote IoT sensors in areas at high risk for wildfires. With IoT technology, remote, geographically inaccessible areas can be monitored from a distance, so firefighters can get to work faster and potentially stop wildfires before they devastate communities, cost billions in damages, and threaten people, pets, and wildlife.
TRL Systems uses the latest technologies to design, build, and maintain your fire and life safety systems. To learn more, contact TRL Systems at fire@TRLsystems.com, or call 1-800-266-1392.