LAFD - Experts & Thought Leaders

3,400 square meters, 129 employees, 14 vehicles, and 2 exhibits at the Fire Station of the Future – this is the key data for Rosenbauer’s impressive appearance at the FDIC International 2023 show, which took place from April 27 to April 29, 2023, in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America (USA). In addition to numerous innovations such as the RTE Robot, the RFC Battery extinguishing system and the E-Rescue, an electric vehicle on a commercial chassis for the American market, the RTX was the real trade fair highlight for Rosenbauer. And not one highlight, but three, as three RTXs from Rosenbauer were on display at the Indiana Convention Center. Rosenbauer’s new RTX on exhibit LAFD’s positive experience with the RTX has laid the foundation for Rosenbauer’s strategy on e-mobility in the US After the Los Angeles Fire Department’s brand new RTX was first introduced to the public in 2022, the company was faced with the challenge of how to convince their customers that Rosenbauer’s electric vehicles can provide the answer to the questions of the future today. LAFD’s positive experience with the RTX has laid the foundation for Rosenbauer’s strategy on e-mobility in the US market. On September 12, 2022, the RTX was placed in operational service after appropriate training at Station 82 – Hollywood Boulevard, and has been a success story ever since. Engine 82 (Name of the vehicle in LAFD usage) has so far: Completed 1.482 operations Been in operation for 1.185 hours Performed 98.65% of operations purely electrically Rosenbauer's solutions at FDIC International 2023 These conclusive numbers have spurred Rosenbauer on to offer their customers a confident and exclusive experience at FDIC International 2023. In addition to LAFD’s RTX at Rosenbauer’s main booth, there were two other RTXs at the convention center – and even in operational mode. Selected customers were, therefore, able to book an RTX Experience Tour, which lasted over one and a half hours. In total, the tour included three stations with different focuses: Station 1: RTX LAFD (20 minutes) The history of the RT/RTX project. The vehicle architecture optimized for fire departments, made possible by the electric drive. LAFD vehicle operational statistics. Station 2: RTX demo 1 (30 minutes) Focus on pump operation, pump unit, and the ability to operate the vehicle. Station 3: RTX demo 2 (30 minutes) Ride-along with focus on handling, performance, and all-wheel steering. Booked tours conducted by the RTX team More than 20 booked tours were conducted by the RTX team for enthusiastic customers More than 20 booked tours were conducted by the RTX team for enthusiastic customers, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. It is certainly a rarity that customers can test new products and innovations so intensively by themselves at a trade fair. And this enthusiasm reflects the specific interest in the American market. Additional deliveries to Vancouver, Rancho Cucamonga, Brampton, and Victoria are planned later this year, and new orders and inquiries are on the horizon. RTX demo tour of the USA and Canada Rosenbauer’s RTX team will soon be embarking on an RTX demo tour of the USA and Canada, making the following stops along the way: January to May 2023: Minnesota, East Coast, Ontario and Quebec June to October 2023: West Coast, Alberta and British Columbia In this way, Rosenbauer want to remain true to their line by bringing the answers to tomorrow’s firefighting questions to life today.

The Fotokite Sigma has recently been mentioned as one of the more common tethered drones used by police and fire departments to provide simple and easy situational awareness. Drones (including tethered drones) are becoming critical tools for all kinds of use cases in law enforcement and firefighting. In many aspects of their emergency operations, a new era driven by drone usage is emerging, featured in the latest article, ‘11 Ways Police Departments are using drones’ from Police1.com. Wide adoption of drones From traffic crash reconstruction, pre-tactical deployment, reconnaissance, special ops, fire response to search and rescue, classical drones, as well as tethered drones are now known for bringing additional safety during critical situations and an improved operational effectiveness over all. Emergency teams and public safety chiefs are embracing this new technology into their daily operations. Drones are being used for everything from special operations and reconnaissance before tactical deployments, reconstruction of traffic crashes and life-saving search and rescue missions. Free-flying drones and tethered drones Emergency teams and public safety chiefs are embracing this new technology in their daily operations Free-flying drones along with tethered drones are now allowing first responders to gain game changing situational awareness during critical situations, resulting in an improved operational effectiveness. Emergency teams and public safety chiefs are embracing this new technology in their daily operations. For example, here is a great example of how the Oklahoma City Fire Department uses Fotokite in their daily operations. The simplicity and persistent ‘eye in the sky’ is driving more and more public safety, fire, emergency management and departments of transportation to harness the value that tethered drones bring to their deployments. Stationary and real-time situational awareness Providing stationary, real-time situational awareness, as simple as a one-button touch, at many emergency scenes, as described in the following excerpt from article, ‘11 Ways Police Departments are using drones’ from Police1.com. Tethered drones are another tool being deployed by law enforcement and other public safety agencies. The drones are deployed in a stationary mode, which allows continuous over-watch. The tether serves as its power source and negates the need to change batteries. The tethered operation is relatively simple: a one-button launch and one-button land. Tethered drones can be mounted on a vehicle Fotokite is one of the more common tethered drones and sees significant deployment by fire departments" “The tethered drone offers a way to maintain the scene perimeter and both visual optic and thermal images that can be streamed in real-time. Tethered drones can be mounted on a vehicle, in a compartment, or be portable in a Pelican case and launched in seconds. Fotokite is one of the more common tethered drones and sees significant deployment by fire departments,” said Chief Charles Werner. In addition, a recent Droneresponders.org research report shows that more than 5,000 public safety agencies have already implemented drone programs in the U.S. An estimated 2/3 are law enforcement agencies. Fotokite to monitor fire and emergency response According to the IEDO 2022 report of Best practices in robotics, whether in firefighting, traffic monitoring or crowd management, autonomy over longer periods of time is one of the key advantages of tethered drones (wired drones). The Merrill Fire Department uses Fotokite to monitor a long-lasting fire and emergency response. Fotokite is proud to work in close partnership with some of the best public safety teams in the world. Thanks to a strong partnership with Axon Air, Fotokite is continuously working to introduce tethered drones to law enforcement teams that have existing or new drone programs in place. Fotokite also has a technology partnership with fire equipment leader - MSA, which offers an enhanced connected platform called FireGrid. Fotokite Sigma tethered drones As a result, Fotokite Sigma tethered drones are currently being flown by the Fire Department of New York, Chicago Fire Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, Montreal SPVM, London Metropolitan Police, Paris and Zurich Fire Brigades and many more.

  Taking responsibility is at the heart of Rosenbauer’s future success. They will change the world of firefighting in a sustainable way. They live sustainability in all aspects and are the first point of contact for decision-makers and opinion makers in the firefighting sector. Rosenbauer focus on pioneering spirit, innovation, and customer orientation. They recognize and understand the current trends and the needs of their customers and offer the appropriate solutions with the best price-performance ratio. They take responsibility – even for the whole industry. Therefore, it was a matter of course for them to participate at Interschutz 2022, in Hanover, Germany and in order to educate, advice and show the firefighting industry where Rosenbauer’s journey is headed. Rosenbauer City With their Rosenbauer City at Interschutz, the company has created the contact point for users, decision-makers With their Rosenbauer City at Interschutz, the company has created the contact point for users, decision-makers, and interested parties. The city functioned as a home – everyone was welcome. They have greeted thousands of visitors, taught them, advised them, and inspired them with their products. E-mobility – A clear commitment The interior of Rosenbauer’s trade fair stand was a clear statement: they are committed to e-mobility in the firefighting industry. The highlight was certainly their PANTHER electric, which shone from the highlight stage together with their RT (Revolutionary Technology). The highlight products were flanked by a municipal e-lineup. In their Electric Fire Station, they had four electrified vehicles on display, which are typically stationed in a municipal fire station: 2x electric rescue firefighting group vehicles 1x electric aerial ladder 1 x electric logistics vehicle These vehicles are presented in detail in this article, with their special features discussed. Rosenbauer’s Municipal Electric Line-Up Rosenbauer’s Municipal Electric Line-Up at Interschutz 2022 in Hanover consisted of: RT AT electric L32A-XS electric GW-L electric The RT is completely developed in-house at Rosenbauer: extinguishing technology of course, but also the electric drive technology, with purchased and integrated components from Volvo Penta. Overall, the RT presents itself as a highly integrated and complex vehicle. As the conceptually integrated chassis comes from Rosenbauer, they refer to it as a ‘custom chassis’. The remaining three products differ significantly from this. They show the traditional way of building fire fighting vehicles: putting a firefighting superstructure on a purchased OEM chassis (commercial chassis). RT – Revolutionary Technology The e-drive is the enabler that makes this unique architecture of the vehicle possible The RT is the flagship of Rosenbauer’s municipal e-fleet. This is not only due to the electric drive, but above all, due to the overall revolutionary vehicle architecture, which is tailor-made to meet the requirements of the firefighting sector. This revolutionary, holistic approach is reflected in its ergonomics, interior concept, digital operation, connectivity and, last, but not least, its performance, maneuverability, and compactness. The e-drive is the enabler that makes this unique architecture of the vehicle possible. The technology generates levels of freedom that they can convert into customer benefits in the best possible way with their in-house development. In the development of the drive solution, they entered into a strategic partnership with Volvo Penta and thus, use the drive technology from Volvo Trucks that has been proven in series production vehicles. Intensive test regiment The series-ready RT has undergone an intensive test regiment. So, after 10 years of developing this product, they can look back on more than 100,000 km of driving and 10,000 hours of operation. The RT is a vehicle that has undergone the most intensive testing program to date, with EU homologation as a logical consequence. This means that the RT can now be offered to all interested customers on the market. Also, the first version of the RT developed according to the US NFPA requirements has already been delivered to the customer - Los Angeles City Fire Department in April 2022. Characteristic product features of RT The compact dimensions of 2,350 mm width, 2,900 mm height, and 7,300 mm length, together with the optionally available rear-axle steering, ensure excellent maneuverability in urban environments with a turning circle of 13.5 m. But its performance is also impressive, because with torque from the bottom up ‘the vehicle wins every run from the traffic lights’. A highly compact and efficient ‘electric back-up generator’ permanently installed in the vehicle ensures that the high-voltage batteries in the vehicle can be electrically charged at any time and that the extinguishing technology in the vehicle can be permanently operated. The vehicle can be equipped with up to two high-voltage batteries with a nominal storage capacity of 132 kWh, giving a purely electric range of up to 100 km. Permanent all-wheel drive The permanent all-wheel drive is provided by a propulsion engine on both the front and rear axles The permanent all-wheel drive is provided by a propulsion engine on both the front and rear axles, so that the vehicle combines full traction and off-road capabilities. The extinguishing technology can be driven purely electrically for up to 1 hour in the version of the vehicle with 2 batteries or for up to 5 hours powered by the electric back-up generator. The requirements of EN1846 are therefore clearly exceeded. The chassis is equipped with independent suspension and a modern electronic braking system with ABS and ESP. One of the special features of the chassis design is that, in addition to the extremely agile driving feel similar to that of a passenger car, it also has a height-adjustable chassis that can be lowered at the operational site or raised to an off-road level when off from the road. Berlin Fire Department successfully tests the RT One of Rosenbauer’s lead customers is the Berlin Fire Department, which has now successfully tested the RT – referred to by the Berlin Fire Department as the eHLF in the fleet – in real-world operations over a period of 13 months with around 1,400 operations. The energy concept of the RT has proven itself in that 90% of the missions could be completed purely electrically. The purely electrical duration of the operation is, of course, highly dependent on the type of operation – whether it is a technical operation or a fire operation, for example. It has been shown that on average an electrical operating time of approx. 60-90 minutes is realistic. The longest operation with the eLHF of the Berlin Fire Department lasted more than 4 hours. The electric back-up generator was also active there. Thanks to its automatic activation and problem-free operation, the vehicle proved its continuous operational capability. Main facts of the vehicle on display include: Highly compact vehicle dimensions Rear-axle steering (all-wheel steering) for optimized maneuverability (up to only 13.5 m diameter with all-wheel steering) Diesel-powered electric back-up generator 2x high-voltage batteries with a total of 132 kWh nominal capacity Permanent 4×4 all-wheel drive Purely electrical range of up to 100 km Fully electric pump operation up to 1 hr Electronic braking system (with ABS and ESP) Height-adjustable air suspension chassis (underaxle clearance 175 – 250 – 350 mm) AT electric – fully-electric Advanced Technology The AT electric, as exhibited at Interschutz 2022, is based on a Volvo FE electric series chassis The AT electric stands for familiar technology: on the one hand, it is built on a series chassis, and on the other, it relies on Rosenbauer’s AT superstructure concept, which has proven itself thousands of times over. The AT electric, as exhibited at Interschutz 2022, is based on a Volvo FE electric series chassis. In this chassis, in addition to the two electric motors for the 4×2 drive on the rear axle, an electric motor with 70 kW continuous output is also installed as standard as an electric power take-off, a so-called E-PTO. The series chassis requires only minor adaptations to make it compatible for the AT electric body. Thus, cost-efficient and qualitatively mature solutions can be offered. AT electric featuring N20 underfloor pump The vehicle presented at the show is based on the German standard for HLF20 vehicles. In order to meet the applicable standard in the best possible way, an N20 underfloor pump is installed in the AT electric, which is driven via the original E-PTO provided by Volvo. The extinguishing water tank has a volume of 2,000 liters and is equipped with a free tank inlet. The two high-voltage batteries are arranged to the right and left of the frame and offer a nominal storage capacity of 132 kWh. According to the chassis manufacturer, this can achieve a driving distance of up to 100 km in pure electric mode. Electric back-up generator installed To ensure that the extinguishing pump installed in the vehicle can guarantee the continuous duty required by EN1846, an electric back-up generator from Rosenbauer is installed. In this case, a generator is mechanically driven by a diesel engine and can permanently provide approx. 50 kW of electrical power. The electric back-up generator thus ensures safe and reliable use even in the event of a long-lasting disaster. Rosenbauer have also come up with smart product features for the AT electric Rosenbauer have also come up with smart product features for the AT electric. For example, retractable steps are installed under the battery packs for convenient access to the loading compartments. The arrangement of the underfloor pump also allows for an additional loading space in the rear equipment compartment, which can partially compensate for the lack of full height lockers between the axles. In addition to the above-mentioned features, the AT electric is also distinguished by the rotating steps, the integrated twin cabin, its powerful scene lighting, as well as the extinguishing technology in the form of the RFC Admix Variomatic, as a pressure proportioning system. Main facts of the vehicle on display: Chassis: Volvo FE electric serial chassis 4×2 rear axle drive Electric power take-off (PTO) with a continuous output of 70 kW 2x high-voltage batteries with a total of 132 kWh nominal capacity Range: up to 100 km Extinguishing system: N20 underfloor pump 2,000 liter water tank with free tank inlet Diesel-powered ‘Electric Back-Up Generator’ with 50 kW electrical continuous output RFC Admix Variomatic L32A-XS electric – all-electric aerial ladder Rosenbauer’s product range in the field of electric mobility was enriched by a further innovation presented at Interschutz 2022: The first fully electric aerial ladder available on the market – their L32A-XS electric. The new variant is based on an original OEM electric chassis with the familiar functionality of an L32 aerial ladder. This makes the L32A-XS electric just as functional, powerful and reliable as the standard aerial ladder, which has proven its technological worth in the field with over 1,000 units. Vehicle based on standard Volvo FE electric Like the AT electric, this vehicle is also based on the standard Volvo FE electric Like the AT electric, this vehicle is also based on the standard Volvo FE electric. The two electric motors responsible for the 4×2 rear axle drive provide the vehicle with sufficient driving dynamics and the electric power take-off, with a continuous output of 70 kW reliably supplies the drive units of the aerial ladder functions. Three batteries with a nominal energy storage capacity of 198 kWh are installed in the vehicle exhibited at the fair. With an energy consumption of 20 kWh for typical city operations, 8 to 10 operations in a row can be carried out without recharging the vehicle, or with an average energy consumption of 52 kWh for an out-of-town operation, between 3 and 4 operations can be tackled without recharging the vehicle. This gives the vehicle a range without aerial ladder operation of approx. 75 to 80 km or continuous aerial ladder duty of up to 4 hours. Electrified aerial ladder Otherwise, the electrified aerial ladder offers all the familiar features that one has come to appreciate in the conventional version. In addition, it is equipped with the 5-section ladder with retractable cage boom. This allows a working height of 32 m to be safely achieved, regulated using the 3D load measurement method and controlled by the proven CAN-Safety control system. The rescue cage offers a live load of 500 kg and can be equipped with all known equipment, such as an RM8 water turret, optimized for the respective area of application. Main facts of the vehicle on display: Chassis: Volvo FE electric serial chassis 4×2 rear axle drive Electric power take-off (PTO) with a continuous output of 70 kW 3x high-voltage batteries with a total of 198 kWh nominal capacity Energy consumption: 8 to 10 city missions in a row or 3 to 4 out-of-town missions in a row Ladder: 5-section ladder with tilting cage boom Working height: 32 m Control: CAN-Safety Weighing system: 3D load measurement via load measuring pins Rescue cage: live load of 500 kg GW-L electric – fully electric logistics equipment truck The fully electric logistics equipment truck is built on a standard OEM e-chassis from Volvo The fully electric logistics equipment truck is built on a standard OEM e-chassis from Volvo. The logistics application in the fire department is predestined for electro-mobility, as the application does not have to supply permanent high energy consumers (such as an extinguishing water pump). The equipment can be transported to the operational site in an environmentally friendly way. Once at the scene of the operation, the vehicle can silently provide lighting. Logistics truck based on Volvo FL Electric The logistics truck presented at Interschutz 2022 is based on a Volvo FL Electric, which is available as standard from the chassis manufacturer. They have already had this vehicle on the market since 2020, pioneering the firefighting mobility industry together with Volvo. Important questions, such as electric charging and the corresponding infrastructure could thus be answered very early on in the market. Rosenbauer is thus assuming the role of a responsible leader and expert on the issue. The Volvo FL Electric can be equipped with 4 or 6 batteries as standard. The vehicle presented at Interschutz 2022 has 4 battery packs on board and can manage a range of about 300 km without any problems. Main facts of the vehicle on display: Volvo FL electric serial chassis 2 speed transmission, 1st gear: 425 Nm Up to 6 battery packs with 66 kWh nominal capacity each possible Range with 4x battery packs approx. 300 km What will the future bring? Although looking into the future in general, but especially in such a dynamic environment as e-mobility, is fraught with great uncertainty and developments are difficult to predict, Rosenbauer has nevertheless set cornerstones that they will pursue with full dedication and conviction: For Rosenbauer, battery-powered electric drive concepts are the definitive technology of the future in the firefighting sector. Energy content and ecological storage media will continue to develop rapidly, so that limited range and operating time of the extinguishing agent pump in e-operation will no longer be an issue in the future. Rosenbauer continue to develop their own customized solutions and will also build on serial OEM chassis. They are expertise leaders, have a clear vision of the future, pursue a clear strategy and offer comprehensive process, product and system solutions.

Drones provide a useful tool for multiple functions within a modern fire department. The Los Angeles City Fire Department has been among the first to embrace the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or drones, and the program has continued to grow in the last seven years, always guided by professionalism and accountability. training, standardization, and professional development What can other fire departments learn from the Los Angeles example? “You have to crawl first, then walk after that, and then run,” says Richard Fields, Deputy Chief at Los Angeles City Fire Department, who has worked with the UAS program since the beginning. “After all these years, we are conscious of doing it right, which means you have to do it slowly. We make sure every pilot we certify can operate the drones safely. We are mirroring our program after the larger aviation world, with comparable levels of training, standardization, and professional development.” LAFD drone program We put our people through their paces with written tests and training" The Los Angeles City Fire Department drone program began in 2017, built on professionalism, using pilots with military experience, and aspiring to the high standards of the department’s manned aviation department. “We wanted to make it clear that this is not a hobby, it’s an aircraft being operated in air space by a professional pilot,” says Fields. “We put our people through their paces with written tests and training.” Certifications  The department developed relationships with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), obtained the required Certificate of Authorization (COA), and has become an example of a successful program. Los Angeles City FD participated in 2018 when drones were first on display at the FDIC convention.  Drone payloads include high-definition visible and zoom cameras, thermal cameras, and gas and chemical detection sensors. Some of the larger drones can carry up to 15 pounds, able to deliver a life preserver or rope across a distance in an emergency, for instance. Applications  Drones are used both in emergencies and to accomplish day-to-day job requirements. For instance, drones can help to inspect wildlands or map parcels during fire inspections. An individual seeking to inspect a parcel of land would require hours to take 25 good pictures at ground level. In contrast, a drone can take 500 or more images in 20 minutes, which can be stitched together to provide a mosaic of the larger area. Drones can also be used to examine oil wells faster than ground inspections. Force multiplier  LA fire’s drone program does not “stand-alone,” but rather is integrated with a variety of specialty units During COVID, drones helped the LA fire department produce maps to guide the positioning of testing and vaccination sites and to analyze traffic patterns. Notably, LA fire’s drone program does not “stand alone,” but rather is integrated with a variety of specialty units throughout the department. Drones are a “force multiplier” in dozens of applications throughout the department. Real-time guidance  In emergencies, drones provide images to guide firefighting and rescue operations in real-time. For example, if a manned helicopter unit drops water onto a fire, a drone flying nearby can assess the impact of that water drop on the heat signature of the fire, thus pinpointing the need for additional actions. After a fire is extinguished, drones with thermal cameras can identify any hot spots still needing attention. In this way, drones can accelerate the repopulation of a damaged area from 3 days to a single day. situational awareness  In a house fire, drones can assess the condition of the roof or on the other side of the building from where firefighters are working, including heat signatures showing hot spots. By providing more situational awareness, drones can positively impact operations and safety. In a cliff-side rescue scenario, a drone can share a video of the progress of rescuers who rappel off a cliff, images that cannot be seen from the top of the cliff. Drones can also be used to drop a rope or life preserver to facilitate the rescue. internal flight management system A picture is worth 1,000 words, and more accurate assessments help to deploy resources more efficiently" “Drone images can provide a visual to match what they are hearing on the radio,” says Fields. “A picture is worth 1,000 words, and more accurate assessments help to deploy resources more efficiently.” In a swift water rescue, a drone can quickly provide a view of the victim, not obtainable either from the embankment or even a helicopter. An internal flight management system logs the missions and how many hours drones fly, metrics that are provided to an oversight committee. In the last report (2021) they flew just under 800 hours and about 500 missions. 22 types of drones  Today, the LAFD program includes 22 drones of various types and models and 20 or so pilots. About 80% of the drones are from Chinese manufacturer SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd. DJI models used in the Los Angeles fire department include M600, M300, M100, Phantom 4, and Mavic. In addition, the department uses drones from other manufacturers, including a Yuneec heavy-duty drone, a Parrot ANAFI professional drone, and an Autel drone. reliability, usability, and standardization Any security concerns related to how the drone is used are a non-issue when it comes to firefighting Although manufactured in China and previously the target of concerns about national security risks, DJI drones are widely used in the fire service because of their reliability, usability, and standardization. Fields point out that national security issues are not a concern for firefighter applications, such as viewing a construction fire, compared to, say, a military flight operation. Any security concerns are related to how the drone is used, which is generally a non-issue when it comes to firefighting. Public safety seeks to be a “voice in the room” urging moderation as lawmakers and regulators consider restricting the use of Chinese-made drones, says Fields. Transparency  In the years since the program launched, the department has “tweaked” it to address security concerns and provide full transparency to the public. When finalizing policies and procedures, the department allowed the ACLU to preview its proposal and then fine-tuned the final version to address any concerns about privacy or transparency. “We have been very transparent about our program and are more than happy to show off our program and our capabilities,” says Fields safety operations  There is a clear line of demarcation between how the fire department uses drones and how the police department might use them. Police operations are more likely to be “surveillance” applications, thus raising privacy concerns, while the fire department uses drones to improve their operations and make them safer. A key to successfully managing the LAFD program is standardizing how pilots are trained. The program has become an exemplar in the region, and the department has helped 30 fire departments around the country launch their programs. 

The Thermite RS3, manufactured by Howe & Howe Technologies, is a wide-chassis, industrial firefighting robot that is remotely operated using a belly-pack controller to provide high-definition video feedback for easy maneuverability, even in difficult conditions. The Los Angeles City Fire Department was the first to buy the bright yellow firefighting vehicle, as announced last fall. Thermite RS3 robot Decon7 Systems has teamed with Howe & Howe Technologies to pioneer the delivery of D7 disinfecting formula The robot is also being used in a new way during the COVID-19 pandemic. Decon7 Systems has teamed with Howe & Howe Technologies to pioneer the delivery of D7 disinfecting formula, using the RS3 to spray the disinfectant as foam, in order to ensure large areas are free of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The configuration is another way that a variety of items are being repurposed for new uses in the time of the pandemic, ranging from scarves used as face masks to kitchen tables that double as desks in a virtual schoolroom. In this case, a robot, which costs upwards of US$ 300,000, is providing a new way to carry out large-scale disinfecting operations of public places. Combination of D7 disinfectant and Thermite RS3 As COVID-19 pandemic restrictions ease and more public events are contemplated, the combination of D7 and the Thermite RS3 to disinfect and clean large areas will be relevant to communities and facilities across the country. “The combination of Thermite RS3 technology and D7 foam opens the door to new methods of quickly and safely deactivating the COVID-19 virus in public spaces,” said Decon7 Systems’ Senior Vice President, William Joe Hill. Thermite and D7 provided a demonstration of the new capabilities. “We hope to show the significance of this capability to facility maintenance operators and first responders, including firefighters, law enforcement and emergency services teams, all across the country,” adds William Joe Hill. Positive pressure ventilation (PPV) ventilator The RS3’s modular design and wider stance allow additional equipment to be incorporated, including positive pressure ventilation (PPV) ventilator. In the disinfectant use case, two nozzles spray the disinfectant from the robot. One is controllable and can spray a sidewalk as the robot travels down the road, for example. The second nozzle feeds into the airstream of a PPV ventilator fan system, where it is jetted at 20 gallons per minute to get the right foaming action of the solution. A tow-behind trailer includes a pump to provide pressure without connecting to an outside water source. Large-scale disinfection operations When used in firefighting, the Thermite RS3 avoids having to deploy firefighters into extreme conditions When used in firefighting, the Thermite RS3 avoids having to deploy firefighters into extreme conditions. The RS3 enables firefighters to respond at a safer distance from danger, while using the robot as an extension of their own senses. The same advantages also drive new usage arenas such as COVID-19 disinfection, toxic chemical remediation, and biohazard disinfection. Large-scale disinfecting operations can be achieved without putting personnel in harm’s way. The RS3’s hose attachment enables users to spray large areas with disinfectant efficiently. D7 broad-spectrum antimicrobial disinfectant D7 is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial disinfectant that is versatile for a host of applications. It capitalizes on the power of hydrogen peroxide, penetrating and disarming toxins at the molecular level. The D7 formulation is made up of mild ingredients, which gives it low toxicity and corrosion properties. Fabricated using industrial-grade steel and reinforced rubber tracks, RS3 can navigate rugged terrain and withstand exposure to the extreme elements. Its 36.8 hp diesel engine can run 20 hours without refueling. The control device, strapped around the waist of the operator, has a range of a quarter mile away.

Among the tools of the fire service, some of the most powerful are hand-held devices. These technologies provide information to firefighters than can direct their approaches to emergency situations and safe lives. Today, more powerful devices are available in smaller, hand-held form, sometimes taking the place of much larger and more expensive devices. For example, previously the Los Angeles Fire Department carried just one large thermal imaging camera (TIC) that cost upwards of $10,000 on each fire engine. Structure Damage Evaluation Los Angeles is one of the municipal fire departments in the country to equip every on-duty firefighter with a hand-held TIC A new, smartphone-sized TIC from Seek Thermal, Santa Barbara, Calif., costs just $750 and now offers each firefighter the ability to perform faster search and rescues, execute a self-rescue if needed and locate smoldering hot spots. Los Angeles is one of the largest municipal fire departments in the country to equip every on-duty firefighter with a hand-held TIC. The purchase of a thousand TICs for the LAFD was made possible by the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation through the support of individual donors and organizations such as the Wasserman Foundation and California Community Foundation. Hand-held TICs are becoming more and more popular. FLIR has unveiled the K1 handheld TIC that is more affordable for first responder officers and fire investigators. At $599, the K1 detects heat and provides visibility through smoke and in total darkness to enhance situational awareness for use in wildland fire control, search and rescue missions, structure damage evaluation and investigative work. FLIR has unveiled the K1 handheld TIC that is affordable for first responder officers and fire investigators Gas Leak Detector The K1 is powered by the FLIR Lepton thermal microcamera and uses MSX technology, which extracts high-contrast details from the images taken by an onboard visible light camera and superimposes them onto the thermal images. It simultaneously captures thermal and visible images of a scene and stores up to 10,000 image sets to create post-scene reports, analysis and evidence. A pistol grip design allows firefighters to view a scene from their line-of-sight for improved safety and situational awareness. A spot thermometer easily identifies unseen hot and cold spots for instant troubleshooting. New handheld devices in the fire service also include a gas leak detector and a combination device that is cloud-ready. The Ultra-Trac LZ-30 compact methane-specific leak detector from Sensit Technologies provides fast and accurate readings up to 100 feet away. The device uses TDLAS (tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy) to provide instantaneous alerts to the presence of methane. Potentially Dangerous Situations Firefighters can conduct leak detection investigations themselves without the need for PPM detectors Operating at a distance, the LZ-30 eliminates the need for firefighters to access the gas plume directly and keeps them safe from potentially dangerous situations. They don’t have to climb to elevated areas or access fenced-in property or climb to elevated areas. Firefighters can conduct leak detection investigations themselves without the need for specialized PPM detectors – no need to wait for gas engineers. A simple interface provides user-friendly operation of the ergonomically designed instrument. Another wireless, handheld device includes thermal imaging, firefighter ranging, motion alarm and cloud technology with GPS. MSA Fire’s LUNAR is a small, wireless, cloud-ready device designed to provide higher levels of protection for firefighters through enhanced vision, improved situational awareness, and team connectivity. It is part of a suite of SMA products that, when used together provides a new platform for firefighter safety. MSA Fire’s LUNAR is a small, wireless, cloud-ready device designed to provide higher levels of protection for firefighters Better Situational Awareness It can be used as a stand-alone device or as part of an MSA self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) system. Thermal imaging increases visibility and improves situational awareness. Firefighter ranging combines direction and distance information to find separated teammates and decrease response time. A motion alarm sounds an alert if it does not detect a firefighter’s motion. Production of the device will begin in summer 2020. The ability to provide better situational awareness to firefighters in the palm of their hands can go a long way toward keeping firefighters safer. For example, LAFD says the thousand new TICs are a significant technology purchase and a critical component to their ‘Everyone Goes Home’ initiative. We often marvel at the powers of modern technology, and clearly those powers include saving lives.