WORCESTER, Mass. — A little black box capable of remotely tracking a firefighter’s location while battling a fire made its first successful public debut yesterday.
This unnamed first responder location system was on display at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
As part of the public demonstration, firefighters were outfitted with the small boxes while participating in two staged drills.
A New England Cable News’ report explained that an incident commander would be able to monitor firefighters’ locations on a computer screen and guide or find them with the devices.
Worcester Deputy Chief John Sullivan told NECN that the ability to see a firefighter’s location in 3D is the biggest development; it is the first time that commanders outside of a building could see the exact floor a firefighter is on.
“There’s a trail that goes through the building and I’m able to see where they’ve been and where they are in relatively real time,” Chief Sullivan said.
The technology is slated to be complete in the next 18 months.