Greg Poncin’s Type 1 Incident Management Team is using iPads as they manage the Sawtooth Fire near Hamilton, Montana. A member of the team developed an app that can assist in collecting and distributing information on a near real time basis wirelessly using a 3G cell phone system. The team is using them to share maps, documents, photos, and videos.
An article at KAJ18 about the system does not say, but I imagine they are putting the Incident Action Plan on the devices as well. iPads may not be very practical to carry on the fireline, but if it is compatible with an iPhone, firefighters in a spike camp may in the future be submitting their time to the finance section on a hand-held wireless device.
If the team does not have a wireless hot spot at the Incident Command Post, the system would be dependent on 3G cell phone service, which is not always easy to find at the scene of a large wildland fire.
A video at KAJ18 features Incident Commander Poncin describing the innovation.
The Sawtooth fire, according to the information on InciWeb, has burned 5,882 acres and is 45 percent contained.
UPDATE at 10:40 a.m. MT, September 28, 2012:
Kelly reports to us that a helicopter pilot friend told her that on the Sawtooth fire the Helicopter Managers were getting the Incident Action Plans (IAP) wirelessly. On the Halstead fire the pilot obtained copies of maps by using a smart phone or iPad to scan a QR code (similar to a bar code) on the front of the IAP.
The possibilities for this kind of technology are endless.
What new technologies have you seen recently on wildfires? Or, what new technologies have the potential to be implemented on fires which could enhance efficiency, reduce costs, or help to provide a safer working environment for firefighters?
Not only is there great info available for overhead but ground resources as well. On the Halstead our Task Force Leader used his personal i-phone to pull up maps and google earth to show where he wanted us to go and what to expect. As a Single Resource Boss this would help in planning and relaying what we saw on the line to line supervisors. Also, my module has to input time and do other administrative work while on the line since we don’t have support staff back at the district office who can help us. Smart phoned, i-pads, and other technology can help us while traveling all summer so we don’t get behind. We end up getting time in late, purchase cards shut down and missing important information because we are out of the office. With the centralization module leaders have taken on more administrative work that needs to be done by us and having mobile technology will keep us in touch and up to date.
When helicopter pilots can get the IAP on their iPad and grab maps using a QR code, I’m impressed. And MA, ya hafta remember it’s federal agencies and employees can’t just do anything they want with new technology. I worked on fires as a contractor (AD) and there were times when I was the only one in the ICP who could maintain an internet connection. It’s frustrating as hell for agency employees when they’re told all day long, “No, we can’t do that” (because the WO says so) or “It’s not appropriate to do that” (by hide-bound agency superiors).
I was thinking the other day about my grandma (who died in ’92) and trying to explain to her today that we have this thing the size of a phone book (remember those?) and it’s kinda like a typewriter but it gets messages from space with maps and photos taken 2 minutes ago by someone 6 states (or time zones) away. Technology’s advanced pretty quickly, but not everyone can appreciate it or use it tomorrow.
The technology has been out for a while now. Nice to see but not impressed. 2012 and just now discovering it.
If they can prove the use is really beneficial, maybe folks can be convinced to put up more cell towers on their land.