GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — New tools and technological upgrades are helping the Grand Rapids Fire Department save lives more quickly and efficiently, because when it comes to fighting fires, every second counts.
In the bed of Fire Battalion Chief Ed Braman's SUV is the new 'Tablet Command' program that pulls up incident information.
"It lets me know who I have on the alarm as far as my resources," said Braman.
They can keep track of personnel on building fires or technical rescues.
"I can place them on the map where they're at so if we're on a giant commercial building and I have a crew that's gone missing, I know where they went into the building."
The old way was less efficient.
Firefighters had to walk up to the incident commander or the chief and were given an assignment using a tag system.
The Grand Rapids Fire Department is the only fire department in the state using the Tablet Command program, but this isn't their only upgrade.
They have lithium ion powered extrication tools such as the jaw-of-life or cutter that are more portable and more powerful than gas powered tools. The gas powered tools could only be used as far as 25 feet away from the generator.
"The new drone we just got--we put into service in November of 2022," said Lt. Steve Adamczyk.
Plus a new drone with a thermal camera and live stream video capability that also doesn't suffer as much from radio frequency interference in the downtown area.
"So we're able to fly it in the dense urban environment a lot safer and more consistently," said Adamczyk. "We're able to complete the missions we want to fly in this area."
One upgrade to come is a situational awareness board for all fire houses so the same information on 'Tablet Command' can be visible to firefighters which will make them more ready to respond to a fire or rescue.
These upgrades are all new ways to fight old problems, said Braman.
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