1 00:00:00,182 --> 00:00:01,222 (electronic music) 2 00:00:01,222 --> 00:00:02,822 - Hi, my name is Ben. 3 00:00:02,822 --> 00:00:04,678 I've worked in the wildland fire community 4 00:00:04,678 --> 00:00:06,262 for more than 10 years. 5 00:00:06,262 --> 00:00:07,910 I'm here to talk about technology 6 00:00:07,910 --> 00:00:10,118 in the wildland fire workplace. 7 00:00:10,118 --> 00:00:11,222 There are many facets 8 00:00:11,222 --> 00:00:13,478 of the wildland fire organization 9 00:00:13,478 --> 00:00:14,342 and we don't all have 10 00:00:14,342 --> 00:00:16,214 the same type of job to do. 11 00:00:16,214 --> 00:00:18,918 We don't all get to fires the same way, 12 00:00:18,918 --> 00:00:20,726 but one thing we have in common 13 00:00:20,726 --> 00:00:23,558 are the technologies we use to fight fires 14 00:00:23,558 --> 00:00:25,046 and things have changed a lot 15 00:00:25,046 --> 00:00:26,902 in the firefighting technology world 16 00:00:26,902 --> 00:00:29,126 over the past few years. 17 00:00:29,126 --> 00:00:30,614 Today, the use of computers 18 00:00:30,614 --> 00:00:32,806 affects all of us in some way 19 00:00:32,806 --> 00:00:34,582 and the use of mobile technology 20 00:00:34,582 --> 00:00:37,878 like smartphones, tablets or apps, 21 00:00:37,878 --> 00:00:41,270 on the fire line is now becoming the norm. 22 00:00:41,270 --> 00:00:44,454 We are going to look at how we use technology today 23 00:00:44,454 --> 00:00:47,494 and some of the new tools that we have to use. 24 00:00:47,494 --> 00:00:49,030 In order to put some of the current 25 00:00:49,030 --> 00:00:50,742 tech tools in context, 26 00:00:50,742 --> 00:00:52,982 let's look at some of the pivotal advances 27 00:00:52,982 --> 00:00:53,974 from the past 28 00:00:53,974 --> 00:00:55,110 and how they relate to the 29 00:00:55,110 --> 00:00:58,198 current technological climate we work in today. 30 00:00:58,198 --> 00:01:00,822 One of the first advances in firefighting technology 31 00:01:00,822 --> 00:01:03,014 came to us more than 100 years ago 32 00:01:03,014 --> 00:01:05,334 and was so significant that it is still a tool 33 00:01:05,334 --> 00:01:08,006 that surely every firefighter has used. 34 00:01:08,006 --> 00:01:10,742 With more than 10,000 tools in circulation today, 35 00:01:10,742 --> 00:01:13,526 the pulaski was one of the first real innovations 36 00:01:13,526 --> 00:01:15,302 in firefighting technology. 37 00:01:15,302 --> 00:01:17,222 In the early 1900s, 38 00:01:17,222 --> 00:01:19,062 there was a high demand for advances 39 00:01:19,062 --> 00:01:20,342 in hand tool technology, 40 00:01:20,342 --> 00:01:22,678 which ultimately led to the tool being standardized 41 00:01:22,678 --> 00:01:26,742 by the USDA Forest Service in the 1930s. 42 00:01:26,742 --> 00:01:29,190 This is one example of the long evolutionary road 43 00:01:29,190 --> 00:01:31,878 a piece of technology can take before it becomes 44 00:01:31,878 --> 00:01:34,518 a standard piece of equipment. 45 00:01:34,518 --> 00:01:36,502 There are many other examples that could be used 46 00:01:36,502 --> 00:01:39,030 as technological wave points. 47 00:01:39,030 --> 00:01:42,902 Radios, chainsaws and even the clothes we wear 48 00:01:42,902 --> 00:01:44,534 have all changed significantly 49 00:01:44,534 --> 00:01:46,502 in the past few decades. 50 00:01:46,502 --> 00:01:47,734 Going from the misery whip 51 00:01:47,734 --> 00:01:50,822 to the incredibly efficient chainsaws we use today 52 00:01:50,822 --> 00:01:52,150 took quite awhile. 53 00:01:52,150 --> 00:01:54,070 The first recorded use of a fire shelter 54 00:01:54,070 --> 00:01:57,910 was in 1804 when a child was protected from a grass fire 55 00:01:57,910 --> 00:01:59,974 under a bison hide. 56 00:01:59,974 --> 00:02:02,518 It took more than 150 years to develop 57 00:02:02,518 --> 00:02:05,014 the tool that we now use. 58 00:02:05,014 --> 00:02:06,790 Today there are many new and emerging 59 00:02:06,790 --> 00:02:08,246 technologies on the market 60 00:02:08,246 --> 00:02:11,270 that were not available to firefighters of the past. 61 00:02:11,270 --> 00:02:12,294 How many firefighters use 62 00:02:12,294 --> 00:02:16,102 websites, tablets and smartphone apps today? 63 00:02:16,102 --> 00:02:17,254 How many of those will withstand 64 00:02:17,254 --> 00:02:18,582 the test of time 65 00:02:18,582 --> 00:02:20,918 or fall to the wayside like the Firefinder? 66 00:02:20,918 --> 00:02:23,366 - Yes, technology. 67 00:02:23,366 --> 00:02:25,830 For instance, the details of a fire 68 00:02:25,830 --> 00:02:27,142 are hard to see at night 69 00:02:27,142 --> 00:02:30,694 or through thick smoke. 70 00:02:30,694 --> 00:02:32,230 Used to be a problem, 71 00:02:32,230 --> 00:02:34,464 but isn't anymore. 72 00:02:35,942 --> 00:02:37,270 Fire research has developed 73 00:02:37,270 --> 00:02:40,358 an airborne electronic scanning system. 74 00:02:40,358 --> 00:02:42,166 It can detect small fires 75 00:02:42,166 --> 00:02:45,286 and map big ones. 76 00:02:45,286 --> 00:02:48,278 It electronically senses details of the fire. 77 00:02:48,278 --> 00:02:50,534 Fire's location, size. 78 00:02:50,534 --> 00:02:51,606 It's perimeter, 79 00:02:51,606 --> 00:02:53,328 it's direction of spread. 80 00:02:54,438 --> 00:02:56,454 (high-pitched beep) 81 00:02:56,454 --> 00:02:57,350 Seconds later, 82 00:02:57,350 --> 00:03:02,246 a photo of these fire details is airdropped 83 00:03:02,246 --> 00:03:05,494 and headquarters gets the picture, 84 00:03:05,494 --> 00:03:07,446 the big picture. 85 00:03:07,446 --> 00:03:07,782 - In the past, 86 00:03:07,782 --> 00:03:09,926 a fire dispatch was a word of mouth. 87 00:03:09,926 --> 00:03:11,942 All hands on deck sort of affair. 88 00:03:11,942 --> 00:03:14,406 Now it consists of incident management teams, 89 00:03:14,406 --> 00:03:15,734 computer networks, 90 00:03:15,734 --> 00:03:17,030 satellite systems, 91 00:03:17,030 --> 00:03:18,934 text and email messages, 92 00:03:18,934 --> 00:03:20,374 a list of websites 93 00:03:20,374 --> 00:03:21,334 and most definitely, 94 00:03:21,334 --> 00:03:22,598 a map program. 95 00:03:22,598 --> 00:03:24,454 There's a lot going on behind the scenes 96 00:03:24,454 --> 00:03:26,694 when we get a fire dispatch. 97 00:03:26,694 --> 00:03:27,942 Two essential programs 98 00:03:27,942 --> 00:03:31,094 are IQCS and ROSS. 99 00:03:31,094 --> 00:03:33,398 Every wildland firefighter is qualified through the 100 00:03:33,398 --> 00:03:38,198 Incident Qualification and Certification System or IQCS. 101 00:03:38,198 --> 00:03:39,702 The IQCS application 102 00:03:39,702 --> 00:03:41,750 shares training and certification data 103 00:03:41,750 --> 00:03:44,118 across multiple agencies. 104 00:03:44,118 --> 00:03:45,350 This allows other programs 105 00:03:45,350 --> 00:03:47,030 like the National Interagency 106 00:03:47,030 --> 00:03:50,742 Resource Ordering and Status System or ROSS 107 00:03:50,742 --> 00:03:52,646 to track you and all resources 108 00:03:52,646 --> 00:03:55,110 in the wildland fire system. 109 00:03:55,110 --> 00:03:57,334 This fire season many of us will be ordered 110 00:03:57,334 --> 00:03:59,702 to incidents that are managed by teams 111 00:03:59,702 --> 00:04:00,774 and we will be dispatched 112 00:04:00,774 --> 00:04:03,142 through a network of coordination centers 113 00:04:03,142 --> 00:04:04,422 from our home unit 114 00:04:04,422 --> 00:04:06,070 to the local dispatch center 115 00:04:06,070 --> 00:04:08,246 to the geographic area GAK 116 00:04:08,246 --> 00:04:10,550 to the national level NIC. 117 00:04:10,550 --> 00:04:11,734 This network of resource managers 118 00:04:11,734 --> 00:04:14,822 use ROSS, CAD and other dispatching programs 119 00:04:14,822 --> 00:04:16,470 to assist in getting you and I 120 00:04:16,470 --> 00:04:17,814 to fires that need our help 121 00:04:17,814 --> 00:04:19,718 across the nation. 122 00:04:19,718 --> 00:04:21,878 The dispatch process is just one of a complex 123 00:04:21,878 --> 00:04:23,510 array of technology that 124 00:04:23,510 --> 00:04:25,670 includes predictive services. 125 00:04:25,670 --> 00:04:26,662 Weather, 126 00:04:26,662 --> 00:04:28,006 fire behavior, 127 00:04:28,006 --> 00:04:30,704 communications and imaging tools. 128 00:04:31,670 --> 00:04:33,094 For quite some time now, 129 00:04:33,094 --> 00:04:34,134 the web of technology 130 00:04:34,134 --> 00:04:35,878 that helps us do our jobs 131 00:04:35,878 --> 00:04:37,622 has existed behind the scenes 132 00:04:37,622 --> 00:04:40,342 and has usually been handed to us. 133 00:04:40,342 --> 00:04:41,206 In the past few years, 134 00:04:41,206 --> 00:04:42,054 you may have noticed 135 00:04:42,054 --> 00:04:43,014 the use of smartphones 136 00:04:43,014 --> 00:04:45,382 becoming essential while in route to 137 00:04:45,382 --> 00:04:47,206 and use operationally on 138 00:04:47,206 --> 00:04:50,038 wildfire and all-risk incidents. 139 00:04:50,038 --> 00:04:51,670 While in route to the incident, 140 00:04:51,670 --> 00:04:53,686 you can access weather information, 141 00:04:53,686 --> 00:04:54,822 find fire information 142 00:04:54,822 --> 00:04:57,910 using WIldcat, InciWeb or ESRI 143 00:04:57,910 --> 00:04:59,958 and share data with coworkers or friends 144 00:04:59,958 --> 00:05:01,670 on nearby crews. 145 00:05:01,670 --> 00:05:03,158 You can have a current fire map 146 00:05:03,158 --> 00:05:06,182 downloaded by your cell signal in seconds. 147 00:05:06,182 --> 00:05:08,038 Once you have arrived on the incident, 148 00:05:08,038 --> 00:05:10,662 a quick scan of the QR code on the IAP 149 00:05:10,662 --> 00:05:12,422 can give you links to maps 150 00:05:12,422 --> 00:05:14,694 and downloadable versions of all the information 151 00:05:14,694 --> 00:05:16,694 on the IAP 152 00:05:16,694 --> 00:05:17,654 and all that can be shared 153 00:05:17,654 --> 00:05:19,510 with the touch of a screen. 154 00:05:19,510 --> 00:05:22,230 We are more connected than ever before. 155 00:05:22,230 --> 00:05:23,686 Now to put this in context, 156 00:05:23,686 --> 00:05:25,958 it took 30 years for the pulaski to be used 157 00:05:25,958 --> 00:05:28,166 as a standard tool. 158 00:05:28,166 --> 00:05:29,302 Many of the smartphone apps 159 00:05:29,302 --> 00:05:32,230 have only been around for a few years. 160 00:05:32,230 --> 00:05:34,342 There are many new and exciting technologies 161 00:05:34,342 --> 00:05:36,038 that are now available to us 162 00:05:36,038 --> 00:05:37,926 in many different categories. 163 00:05:37,926 --> 00:05:38,918 Sometimes it's hard to know 164 00:05:38,918 --> 00:05:41,174 exactly which one to use 165 00:05:41,174 --> 00:05:42,294 and everyone has their favorite 166 00:05:42,294 --> 00:05:44,166 that works best for them. 167 00:05:44,166 --> 00:05:45,254 One thing is certain. 168 00:05:45,254 --> 00:05:46,902 These technologies create the potential 169 00:05:46,902 --> 00:05:48,422 for a more informed, 170 00:05:48,422 --> 00:05:50,390 efficient and ultimately safer 171 00:05:50,390 --> 00:05:52,662 wildland fire environment. 172 00:05:52,662 --> 00:05:54,038 We worked with the experts, 173 00:05:54,038 --> 00:05:55,318 cut through all the red tape 174 00:05:55,318 --> 00:05:56,838 and information out there 175 00:05:56,838 --> 00:05:59,606 and we're producing a few basic tutorial videos 176 00:05:59,606 --> 00:06:01,606 with some of the most important information 177 00:06:01,606 --> 00:06:04,374 that can help you use your mobile tech tool. 178 00:06:04,374 --> 00:06:06,598 Here are a couple resources to get you started 179 00:06:06,598 --> 00:06:07,766 from the folks in charge of 180 00:06:07,766 --> 00:06:09,830 managing our fire tech investments 181 00:06:09,830 --> 00:06:11,750 and outreach information. 182 00:06:11,750 --> 00:06:14,454 With an abundance of rapidly emerging technology, 183 00:06:14,454 --> 00:06:15,910 it's up to the users, 184 00:06:15,910 --> 00:06:17,286 the firefighters, 185 00:06:17,286 --> 00:06:18,374 that's us, 186 00:06:18,374 --> 00:06:19,670 to decide how to apply it 187 00:06:19,670 --> 00:06:23,334 and make it the best tool for our use. 188 00:06:23,334 --> 00:06:25,446 With a small suite of apps close at hand, 189 00:06:25,446 --> 00:06:26,630 an efficient battery 190 00:06:26,630 --> 00:06:28,166 and a protective case, 191 00:06:28,166 --> 00:06:30,422 you can access information that can, 192 00:06:30,422 --> 00:06:31,542 at the very least, 193 00:06:31,542 --> 00:06:34,374 make your life on the fire line easier. 194 00:06:34,374 --> 00:06:35,350 You can share your thoughts 195 00:06:35,350 --> 00:06:36,390 with the fire community 196 00:06:36,390 --> 00:06:37,510 on the mobile technologies 197 00:06:37,510 --> 00:06:41,030 and fire and aviation management discussion board. 198 00:06:41,030 --> 00:06:42,310 There are dozens of tech tools 199 00:06:42,310 --> 00:06:44,022 that may not be fire specific 200 00:06:44,022 --> 00:06:46,214 that are really useful in the field. 201 00:06:46,214 --> 00:06:47,542 It is up to the workforce to decide 202 00:06:47,542 --> 00:06:49,910 how to better solve problems in the workplace 203 00:06:49,910 --> 00:06:51,894 using the latest tools. 204 00:06:51,894 --> 00:06:54,198 Lastly, there may be some innovation needed 205 00:06:54,198 --> 00:06:56,086 to figure out how to use our smartphones 206 00:06:56,086 --> 00:06:58,454 under the blinding sun. 207 00:06:58,454 --> 00:06:59,494 Thanks for your time 208 00:06:59,494 --> 00:07:01,126 and remember to look up from your phones 209 00:07:01,126 --> 00:07:02,134 every once in awhile 210 00:07:02,134 --> 00:07:04,134 so make sure your control lines are straight.