TECHNOLOGY IN FIREFIGHTING 2021
Although significant advances have been made to build fire-resistant buildings and improve fire prevention techniques, fire incidents are still a common problem we face today. In 2018, according to the National Fire Protection Association, a fire department responded to fires every 24 seconds in the United States. Let’s also not forget the wildfires, which burned approximately 4.7 million acres in the United States alone in 2019.
As the risk of fire continues to be prevalent, firefighters must be equipped with the proper equipment to effectively respond to these disastrous situations. Fortunately, technology for fire and rescue has come a long way. We’ve compiled five innovative technologies that could change how firefighters do their job. Read on to learn how they improve situation awareness, save lives, and reduce operating costs.
Sonic Fire Extinguisher
We know that traditional fire extinguishers use chemical compounds to put out fires, but have you ever heard of the use of sound waves to put out fires? This idea came from two engineering students from George Mason University in 2017 who used a small subwoofer gun to spread sound waves. A sonic fire extinguisher will provide a cleaner (and healthier) way of extinguishing a fire because the chemical compounds in a traditional extinguisher can cause further property damage and health risks.
Although this idea was originally tried to extinguish small kitchen fires, advances have been made to enable the technology for wider use, such as in wildfires. One possible application is to connect the devices to drones to effectively cover a wider area. Or, use sonic fire extinguishers to create acoustic boundary lines to prevent the spread of fire. In a situation like a wildfire, this will be very useful and it will help purchase more time for firefighters to respond.
Firefighting Robots
Fire-fighting equipment has come a long way since the first water bomb exploded in Alexandria, Egypt, in the 2nd Century BCE. Those early firefighters never dreamed of smoke alarms, automatic fire sprinkler systems, portable radios, “Jaws of Life,” glow-in-the-dark search ropes preventing firefighters from disappearing into burning buildings, or drones flying above the raging. fire, detecting hotspots, and sending real-time images so that fire fighting teams can make a smart plan of attack. And fire safety technology continues to advance rapidly.
Constantly evolving equipment makes firefighting safer and more effective, saving countless lives. No aspect of fire-fighting equipment remains untouched, from the fabrics used for protection to the method of approaching and handling fires. In this blog, we review some of the most innovative technologies that can better protect brave men and women who make the conscious choice to run into burning buildings and rescue others.
3. The Impulse Firefighting Gun
The Impulse Firefighting Gun looks like a shotgun, and acts as a fire extinguisher
Time is of the essence when fighting the fire. There are only a few minutes between a controlled fire and an uncontrolled fire. IFEX Technologies ’Impulse Firefighting Gun looks more like a shotgun than a fire extinguisher, but it is incredibly effective at eliminating small and large fires. And because it is so frequent, firefighters can quickly deploy it to put out the fire before it spreads — significantly reducing the response time between alarms and fire response.
Hi, I am John Smit a Captain in Fire Department City of Newyork with over years of experience in the field of Firefighting and HSE. My passion for fire safety started when I was a young boy and witnessed a neighbor’s house go up in flames along with precious lives. Since then, I had dedicated my life to ensuring the safety of buildings, properties, and individuals in case of a fire and medical emergencies.
