Fire Chiefs Launch New High Tech Tool to Fight Wildfires
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Knowing where a wildfire is and what direction it is burning in is really important to decision-makers like Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy.
In order to find ways to empower first responders to make efficient and effective decisions, the OCFA is managing a 150-day pilot program to test out the new Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS), that launched on September 1.
"I've been a firefighter for 42 years and there are platforms similar, both manned and unmanned out there now, but none that are launching or responding on initial attack, so this is a big deal for us," said Chief Fennessy.
The Orange County Fire Authority held a press conference along with other firefighting agencies at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos to show the community what this new system consists of by simulating a wildfire.
The agency launched a fixed-wing aircraft to the location of a simulated wildfire and within five minutes, information about the fire was sent to the teams below at a mock-incident command center.
"We're trying to set something up so simple that not only decision-makers, but policy-makers, and others will have one link to go where they can pull it up on their phone and iPad and computers and they'll know real-time where that fire is," said Chief Fennessy.
After knowing exactly where the fire is, Los Angeles Fire Assistant Chief Carlos Calvillo says the teams back at the incident command center will use the WiFire system which was created by the University of California San Diego to help them monitor and track how fast the wildfire is spreading in six-hour time periods based on the weather, topography, and fuel monitors.
"It gives the fire service the ability to make decisions based on real data so we don't miss the mark. We put the resources into the right place, we concentrate evacuation efforts in the right place," said Assistant Chief Carlos Calvillo of Los Angeles Fire Department.
The agencies received support from an assemblywoman.
"The State of California must shift strategies to address the constant crisis of wildfires — this is no longer a seasonal threat. I am proud to have partnered with the Orange Country Fire Authority in securing $4.5 million in state funds for technology that will protect lives and property by giving first responders better, stronger tools to use against the threat of wildfires," said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris.
This pilot program is being managed by OC Fire Authority and is available to help communities in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and Ventura Counties.
"September 1st is when we went operational and here we are, 20 something days later, a few weeks later and we're already switching gears and figuring out how to better communicate positions and it's amazing," said Chief Fennessy.
After they finish the 150-day long program, Chief Fennessy says he and a team of first responders will present a report to let state lawmakers know what worked, what didn't, and why communities in Southern California need a system like this in place in preparation for the next wildfire.
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