Electric fire vehicles, virtual reality (FR), and firefighting robots are among the new technology innovations in the fire market. They are also among the topics covered in the articles that attracted the most attention (i.e., received the most clicks) at thebigredguide.com in 2022.
summary of important issues and technologies
Also attracting eyeballs in 2022 were timely issues such as the labor shortage and the ongoing risk of cancer for firefighters. Fire garments were also among the topics in our Top 10 list, as was the importance of lighting at a fire scene.
Looking back at the top articles of the year as measured by those that received the most "clicks" provides a decent summary of important issues and technologies in the fire service. Let’s look back at the Top 10 articles posted at thebigredguide.com in 2022 that generated the most page views.
Electric Fire Vehicles Gaining Momentum Among Early Adopters
More municipalities worldwide are committing to sustainability and climate goals
The adoption of electric fire apparatus is accelerating their footprint in the industry. Fire departments from Los Angeles to Madison, Wis., from Portland, Ore., to Mesa, Ariz., have embraced the technology of electric and hybrid vehicles in the fire industry and are demonstrating the practical capabilities of this new generation of technology for the fire service.
More municipalities worldwide are committing to sustainability and climate goals. Furthermore, truck producers in general are converting to electric drive systems.
Fire Garments Becoming More Comfortable with More Range of Motion
Trends in garments and protective gear for firefighters are evolving to address the changing needs of the fire service. Garments worn by firefighters must be comfortable and allow an adequate range of motion. They must protect first responders from hazards such as heat and exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
Fire service clothing must be durable to withstand long-term usage in hostile environments. Firefighters have to be kept safe by the best all-around protective fabrics. Fibers must be comfortable, breathable, and safe.
Virtual Reality Highlights Dramatic Display of the Benefit of Fire Sprinklers
Home Fire Sprinkler Association (HFSA) uses virtual reality (VR) to demonstrate up close and personal the revelatory fire prevention role of home fire sprinklers at the early stages of a fire. A virtual reality video available from HFSA demonstrates how fire spreads in two identical rooms in a single-family home in Ashland City, Tenn.
Two rooms were set up as identical living rooms, one with sprinklers and the other without. Both were set on fire. VR video captures dramatic footage, which is viewable in a user-controlled 360-degree video and an immersive experience using VR goggles.
Robots Support Firefighters but Are Not Intended to Replace Them
As departments get more exposure to firefighting robots and learn more about them, they are more open to using them
Firefighting robots have been deployed by a couple of departments in the United States, but the full potential of the technology is being realized. As departments get more exposure to the technology and learn more about the capabilities, they are more open to using them.
They are realizing why and how they are being used, and they understand the full capabilities of the technology, not just to spray water, but to clean debris or gain access through a wall.
Understanding And Addressing the Cancer Risk Among Firefighters
Firefighting is among the riskiest professions, and cancer is one of the biggest related medical risks. Fortunately, research is ongoing to understand the nature of the cancer risk better, new protective equipment and practices are evolving to manage the risk, and support is available for cancer survivors and families.
Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, who are at greater risk of some cancers than the public. Hazardous substances in the firefighting environment include dozens of gases, vapors, and particulates, some of the byproducts of burning. Exposure can happen through breathing, in the eyes, on the skin, or through ingestion.
FIREX International 2022: Ingenuity from Adversity
FIREX International 2022 was bustling with visitors, glad to be back networking, demonstrating new technologies, and sharing ideas. Education was high on the agenda across the three days at London’s Excel, with various live seminars and panel discussion sessions held throughout the show.
Seminars covered topics ranging from social sustainability to safety leadership, while the Fire Protection Association (FPA) InfoZone hosted sessions on sprinklers in schools, the safety implications of electronic vehicle fires, and the insurability of timber buildings.
Addressing Labor Shortages in the Fire and Rescue Services
One factor driving the Great Resignation is the wide availability of new opportunities
The Great Resignation has particular consequences in the sphere of fire and rescue services. When it comes to public safety departments, the trend of employees quitting their jobs could become a matter of life and death. One factor driving the Great Resignation is the wide availability of new opportunities in a tight labor market. Another factor is baby boomers nearing retirement age who decide to call it quits.
A third is a burnout as employees rethink their priorities and work-life balance in the wake of the global pandemic. Burnout is particularly relevant in the fire and rescue services, where workers were especially challenged during the worst of the pandemic.
Darley Promoting Benefits of VR Fire Training; Grant Assistance Available
Firefighters must be trained to keep their skills sharp once or twice a year. Providing that training in a safe environment is a challenge, and virtual reality (VR) enables exposure to the experience of firefighting. In 2017, W.S. Darley & Co. first began offering VR training by partnering with virtual reality startup FLAIM, becoming their exclusive distributor in the United States.
Currently, Darley has sold VR systems from several manufacturers successfully to medium size fire departments and is on the verge of closing sales to several metro departments by the end of 2022. Red tape in larger departments can slow down the adoption curve.
Never-Before-Seen Wildfire Seasons Call for Next Generation Of Wildland Firefighter Protection
The concern is growing for wildland-urban interface (WUI) firefighters as fires today frequently intersect with residential areas, in and around wildland fields. WUI firefighters are fighting both wildfires and urban fires.
This comes with combined hazards and the clear need for their gear to work harder than ever before.
Technology Boosts the Power of Lighting To Ensure Visibility At A Fire Scene
Technology has transformed the role of lighting in the realm of firefighting. The rise of USB-rechargeable flashlights and headlamps enables firefighters to recharge on the go. New, multi-fuel flashlight “systems” use a rechargeable battery, but also can accept disposable batteries for alternate sources of power.
New scene lights are waterproof and offer powerful brightness in situations involving smoke or water. Work lights that fit in tight spaces can be used hands-free or hanging, and rotate on their bodies for light wherever it’s needed.
