GIS and Firefighting

The benefits of a Geographic Information System (GIS) is apparent at every level of firefighting. From prevention to response, GIS can integrate information from various locations to create geospatial visualizations to make their job easier while making the public safer.

Municipal Firefighting Prevention and Response
Municipal fire departments are constantly gathering information to help them be better prepared for an emergency. GIS can help turn this information into geospatial visualizations to be accessed easily whether in an emergency or planning for one.

Location Evaluation
GIS can be used by fire departments to make decisions on the best location of a fire station. By mapping incidents as well as response times, it is easy to see which areas do not fall within the desired response rate. These areas can then be considered for a new fire station.

Identifying which locations should have ladder trucks is also very important. By creating a 3D city model of building heights and comparing that to the reach of the ladder, fire departments can visualize the most logical stations to house ladder trucks.

Pre-Incident Survey
Pre-incident surveys give respondents a better idea of what they will encounter when entering a building. These surveys typically include information such as a building floorplan, a diagram of the grounds surrounding the building, what type of business is carried out, if any, location of hydrants, as well as any other pertinent information. This data can all be connected to the address so when an emergency happens, it is at the first responders’ finger tips.

Fire Hydrant Maintenance
GIS can be used to mark exact locations of fire hydrants. Instead of using addresses or approximate locations, they now have precise coordinates. Not only does this help in the event of a fire emergency, but also in the day to day maintenance of the hydrants. Detailed logs of the condition and any work performed can be attached to the specific hydrant in the system. By knowing the condition of the hydrants, fire fighters can plan to use alternate hydrants if one is out of service.

First Responders
Occupants of a structural fire who have not escaped in the first seven to ten minutes are unlikely to survive, so every minute counts. Integrated with Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), GIS can help dispatchers determine which units will be able to reach the emergency most quickly. It also allows responders the ability to find the quickest route from where they are. Once dispatched, first responders can make use of mobile GIS en route to an incident to gather necessary information while saving precious time. They can view information gathered during the pre-incident survey to figure out their best plan of action.

Fire Chief
GIS gives the Fire Chief the ability to manage the emergency without having to be a part of the tactical deployment. They can take care of the things the first responders cannot handle such as other buildings being threatened, where incoming help can park to be near hydrants, where helicopters can land, where to evacuate victims, and where to send triage teams.

Wildfire Management
Fire fighters battling wildfires use GIS in similar ways as municipal fire departments. They needs to know where the fire is, the best route to get there, the best way to fight it, and the people and property at risk. However, the content and scope can be very different.

Planning and Analysis
Analysis of historical records, vegetation, soil, elevation, resource values, and weather patterns is important to understand the risk of wildfire in certain areas. Geospatial visualizations allow all of this information to be integrated into one system for easier risk analysis. From this information, fire agencies can mark certain areas as high risk for fire. Once these areas are marked, vegetation can be removed, codes can be enforced, and fire fighters can implement fire prevention programs. Fire agencies can also plan the best way to tackle these areas in case there is a fire, so there is less chance of surprises.

Field Operations
By combining planning and current conditions, firefighters can get a complete visualization of the best way to fight the fire. Fire fighters in the field make use of two major sources of technology: mobile devices and aerial photography. Using mobile devices, firefighters can not only receive up to date information about the fire but also send out information to different units about what they are seeing, so plans can be modified when necessary. Making use of aerial photography overlaid with fire GIS information can be sent to the different fire units to help them assess situations as they arise. Aerial photos can also help track crews through smoke, discover smokeless spot fires, and find good drop points.