DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov, announced on Monday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) will be providing fire departments across the country with a new fire safety tool for testing. The innovative device is a helmet-mounted indoor visualization and navigation tool that enables first responders to see through dark smoke. This technology was developed by Qwake Technologies in Austin, Texas and has been awarded $4.7 million funding from S&T to test its effectiveness in real-life situations.
The production of 400 C-THRU devices will be funded for testing in diverse environments and scenarios. The goal of this initiative is to enhance situational awareness, boost firefighter effectiveness, and reduce exposure to carcinogens. Collaborative partnerships with industry are supporting the development of devices like C-THRU to address the challenges faced by first responders.
Testing of the new technology is open for applications from fire departments until July 31, 2024. The data collected from the testing will be used to refine and optimize the product for real-world use before it is commercially released. The testing will take place in 80 fire departments across the country spanning all FEMA regions.
During the testing, prototypes of the device will be distributed to fire departments of various sizes and with different mission sets and temperature environments. Participating fire departments will have the opportunity to define their own operational use and training standards for the equipment. This initiative will provide valuable feedback to further develop the technology and ensure it meets the needs of first responders in different settings.
Dr. Kusnezov highlighted the importance of providing improved equipment and technology to first responders to save lives and protect firefighters. He emphasized that collaborative partnerships with industry are crucial in addressing these challenges faced by first responders.
The announcement was met with enthusiasm from many firefighters who expressed their excitement about using this new technology in their work. They believe that this innovative device could revolutionize how they approach dangerous situations such as wildfires or structural fires where visibility is limited due to smoke or darkness.
Overall, this initiative represents a significant step towards improving fire safety while also protecting our brave first responders who put their lives on hold every day to keep us safe from harm’s way.
