When departments merge, unifying tactics can be one of the hardest parts. That was the challenge facing Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority- a Washington agency responsible for more than 260,000 residents and 120 square miles of coverage, built through multiple consolidations.

The team had strong incident command fundamentals and a regional training consortium in place, but their whiteboard-based workflows weren’t keeping up. Commanders had different systems. Information wasn’t visible across teams. And during critical moments, even small delays could ripple into confusion.

"Everyone had a different way of organizing their command board, and that made it really difficult for me to jump in and assist.” Deputy Chief Dan Conroy

Puget Sound needed more than just good training. They needed a common system.

A Tool Everyone Can Use Under Pressure

With Tablet Command, every chief, aide, and incoming officer could open the same interface - see the same divisions, assignments, time stamps, and checklists - and immediately step into a supporting role.

“It’s simple enough to see things quickly, because your brain’s going a million miles per hour during command.”

What used to be a tangle of personal systems and verbal updates became a structured, visual command process that synced across all users. That clarity paid off not just during the response, but afterward, too. The automatic time-stamped log helped Puget Sound track decisions, benchmark performance, and train more effectively.

Stress-Tested in a Four-Alarm Apartment Fire

On July 10, 2021, Deputy Chief Conroy arrived at a SeaTac apartment complex engulfed in flames. Fourteen apartment units and 11 cars were burning. Residents were jumping from balconies. Command had to be established immediately.

He opened Tablet Command and started building the response- assigning divisions, ordering alarms, tracking units, and managing accountability.

“I didn’t even blink. In a high-stakes situation, the thing I wasn’t worried about was Tablet Command.”

From Regional Challenge to County-Wide Solution

Puget Sound’s experience is one many departments can relate to: shared training but disconnected systems, solid command staff but variable tools. For them, Tablet Command helped close the gap.

“Tablet Command has streamlined our whole command process across our county and made us safer together.”

What began as a response tool became the foundation for Puget Sound’s new Mayday policy. Lessons learned from that fire shaped the region’s SOPs and were embedded into the command checklists inside Tablet Command.

Ready to See It in Action?
Learn how departments like Puget Sound are using Tablet Command to bring consistency, clarity, and structure to mutual aid and large-scale responses. Schedule a demo.

Want the full story? Download the complete Puget Sound case study for additional details and insights.

Common Questions About Puget Sound’s Use of Tablet Command

Why did Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority adopt Tablet Command?
Puget Sound needed a unified system after multiple departmental mergers. Their previous whiteboard-based workflows varied by commander and caused confusion during incidents. Tablet Command gave them a common interface for assignments, divisions, and accountability.

How does Tablet Command help during high-stress incidents?
Tablet Command offers a clear, visual command interface that’s easy to use- even under pressure. During a four-alarm apartment fire, Puget Sound’s Deputy Chief was able to build and manage the response in real time without hesitation.

What features of Tablet Command were most helpful to Puget Sound?
Key features included a shared command board, automatic time-stamped logs, integrated checklists, and visibility into unit locations and assignments. These tools helped streamline operations during the response and improve post-incident reviews and training.

Did Tablet Command impact Puget Sound’s broader policies?
Yes. Insights from real incidents helped shape the region’s new Mayday policy and informed updates to standard operating procedures (SOPs), which are now embedded in Tablet Command’s checklists.

Is Tablet Command used beyond Puget Sound?
Following Puget Sound’s success, the platform has been adopted more broadly across the county, helping bring consistency and coordination to mutual aid responses.