The 2019 wildland season is upon us, and whether you are a firefighter or a chief officer, the mapping features in Tablet Command (iPad) and TC Mobile (iOS/Android) can enhance your situational awareness, safety, and effectiveness while responding to wildland fires.

As crews are dispatched, they can immediately view an incident in Tablet Command with a variety of base maps and map layers in the “Overview” screen or by tapping the “Map” tab within an incident on their iPad or Smartphone.  In these views responders can see the fire ground from an overhead perspective, providing head start on “LCES” (Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones) and insight into situational and resource status.

Everyone has heard the expression, “knowledge is power”. This is a great sentiment, but what is even more powerful is having instant access to the information you need, when you need it, in an easy to interpret format. 

In the fire service, having up-to-date pre-fire plans and reference documents is critical to support response, training and ISO ratings. By knowing the layout and construction of a building, including the locations of fire protection systems, stairwells, emergency exits, etc. first responders can provide optimal protection for occupants and property while enhancing the performance and safety of responding personnel.

Tablet Command, a leading provider of mobile notification, response and incident management solutions for first responders, is pleased to announce the addition of two professionals to our team.

Yes? Great! Here’s why…

In addition to cost sharing, standardized communications and closest unit dispatching, departments sharing a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system with neighboring agencies are able to share a mobile response and incident management software like Tablet Command.

Using  iPads and Smartphones, this mobile solution supports every aspect of emergency response including notification, resource status in CAD, navigation, access to pre-plans, hydrant locations and incident management. It also allows any authenticated user to see incident management activity in real time.

Real time digital mapping improves turnout and response times and can save the lives of citizens as well as the responders who serve them. Wall maps and map books have been the standard in the public safety for decades.

Emergency response personnel increasingly rely on mobile response and incident management solutions such as Tablet Command.

                                      

Recently, I attended an  in-service instructor class taught by a well-respected  subject matter expert. This was a one time only event, so the room was packed. Unfortunately I was seated next to a firefighter with a portable radio.

Inevitably, a run was dispatched, and everyone  was distracted by the radio traffic between responders and the dispatch center.

We all have that building in our district that we drive past and quietly say to ourselves, “I hope we never have a fire there!” I am no exception, and for me it was a fleabag hotel located near the middle of my response district.

Sadly, I did have a fire there at 3 o’clock in the morning on a night that found the motel at full capacity. What made this incident even more concerning was that it was my very first fire as an Acting Battalion Chief.

 

As Firefighters and Paramedics we must often make critical decisions during very dynamic, time-compressed and stressful situations. We have all attended trainings such as High Rise Firefighting Command and Rapid Intervention Crew Deployment that have included tactical worksheets, checklists and other reference materials. However, during an incident these types of resources are not always utilized and we revert to working from memory.

The Denver Fire Department has been utilizing Tablet Command as an incident management and accountability solution since 2016. Early this year, the Denver Fire Department and the Denver Civil Service Commission asked us to create simulated incidents in Tablet Command for an upcoming Assistant Fire Chief promotional examination.