Fire Headlines

Community Risk Reduction

This month, Fire Headlines reached a benchmark of over 10,000 downloads. To celebrate, this week a new segment called “Dealer’s Choice” was introduced where a member of the panel gets to choose an article to discuss. Chief Jeff Buchanan is in the dealer’s seat this week and chose an article that was shared in Fire Rescue 1 and written by our very own Chief Bob Horton. This article brings to light the importance of Community Risk Reduction (CRR) efforts and the shared responsibility of reducing risk in the communities being served under that fire department. Fire Headlines host, Samantha Didion joins the panel of Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan to speak with Meridian, Idaho Fire Chief Kris Blume, an expert in CRR and instructor with the National Fire Academy (NFA), about the importance of CRR in the fire service.

Emergency Response in Specialized Areas

A recent article featured in the Daily Dispatch examines what emergency response looks like at Disney. The Reedy Creek Improvement District Emergency Services is now known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. Situated at the core of its jurisdiction, this department is located just behind Epcot. The department has a unique EMS service delivery program where they station paramedics and EMTs within the theme park and surrounding resorts. This program helps significantly reduce patient contact time. Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan spoke with Fire Headlines host, Samantha Didion, about emergency response in specialized areas.

AI in 911 Call Centers

An article recently shared in the Daily Dispatch discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in a Charleston County 911 call center in South Carolina. The AI is used to streamline non-emergency calls, enabling 911 operators to prioritize dispatching first responders swiftly during emergencies. Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan discussed with the new Fire Headlines host, Samantha Didion, the potential of AI as a solution to staffing shortages.
Director of the Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communication Center, Jim Lake, is a member of the “Early Adopters,” an informal group of 911 call center leaders nationwide. They collaborate to explore the integration of cutting edge technology into their offices amid staffing shortages that have long plagued the industry.
Lake teamed up with Amazon Web Services to integrate an AI powered system that can answer administrative non-emergency calls that come through the “7200 number.” Callers who dial the 7200 number are screened by an AI call taker named Matthew, who requests a brief description of their call and forwards them to the appropriate number.

AI Predicting Wildfire Behavior

An article recently featured in the Daily Dispatch highlights the utilization of drones, satellites, and artificial intelligence (AI) in combatting wildfires by predicting fire behavior. AI shows promise as a valuable tool for assisting first responders in comprehending the progression of active blazes. However, predicting fire behavior still has a long way to go. The 2020 California wildfires illustrate how past fire behavior may not provide an accurate basis for predicting fire development, primarily due to the altered conditions caused by climate change.
 
One equation, which is intended to help fire bosses understand fire behavior, is the FARSITE system. However, its creator, Mark Finney, said the equation “has an awful lot of assumptions in it. We're getting there. Nature is a lot more complicated. There are still a number of mysteries on fire behavior, and we don't have a roadmap to follow that tells us whether or not this is good enough for on the ground use.”
Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan spoke with Dr. Kate Kapalo, the Senior Research Scientist and Assistant Director of WFCA’s Applied Sciences Center, about when this technology should come into play.

CBD in the Fire Service

A recent article featured in the Daily Dispatch shares the story of a fire department in Indiana that changed its drug policy to allow its firefighters to use CBD products. CBD has been legal in Indiana since March of 2018. The policy change for this fire department includes CBD and Delta-8 products of any form. The fire chief of the department recognized that firefighters encounter sleep difficulties and endure both emotional and physical strain on their bodies. He believes CBD could offer assistance in addressing these issues. He reports having received positive feedback from his firefighters and notes there have been “zero issues” since this policy change took place a year ago.
 
This week, we are pleased to welcome back Dr. Andrew Holter, an organizational psychologist, to join the discussion. Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan will be engaging in a conversation with Fire Headlines host Inanna Hencke about the usage of CBD in the fire service.

EXCLUSIVE: Maui Wildfires Analyzed

On August 8, 2023, four wildfires broke out on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Erratic winds and challenging terrain made this fire impossible for firefighters to gain control. At the time of this recording, August 21, 2023, three of the four wildfires are still burning, fatalities have reached 114, and over 800 people are still missing. Reduced to ashes, the historic town of Lahaina now faces a challenging journey towards recovery.
In this week’s episode, Chief Bob Horton assumes the role of host, while our panelist Chief Jeff Buchanan welcomes three special guests to share their professional insight and expertise on the subject of catastrophic wildfires:
Chief Jeff Murray: Retired Maui Fire Chief and WFCA representative for the State of Hawaii
Chief Bob Roper: Retired Fire Chief from Ventura County, California, past Nevada District Forestry and WFCA Policy Advisor
Grady Joseph: Previously served as Assistant Director of Recovery Operations and Logistics Management at the California Governors of Office Emergency Services; currently serves as WFCA Disaster Damage Assessment Lead

AI Predicting Risk of Cardiac Arrest in Firefighters

A recent article shared in the Daily Dispatch examines how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can predict potentially fatal cardiac events in firefighters. Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have used a form of AI known as machine learning to accurately identify abnormal cardiac rhythms in firefighters. Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan spoke with Dr. Kate Kapalo, Senior Research Scientist and Assistant Director of the Western Fire Chief’s Applied Sciences Center, about where she sees this technology heading in the future.

Fire Investigations

A construction site fire in Clark County, NV, caused $90 million in damages, according to a recent article shared in the Daily Dispatch. The task force working to determine the fire’s cause includes fire investigation personnel from Clark County, Las Vegas, Henderson, Nevada state, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan spoke with Dan Heenan, who has 30 years of experience in the ATF as a Certified Fire Investigator, about the process of investigating fires and how this can help inform fire safety policies.

Preserving Fire Service History

First Responders and Train Cargo

The United States Transportation Department has unveiled a new proposal that will require railroads to notify first responders of the cargo a train is carrying if the train derails. An article sent out by the Daily Dispatch discusses the idea behind this proposed law and how to prepare first responders before they arrive at the incident. Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan speak with Fire Headlines host Inanna Hencke about the most effective ways for hazardous cargo information to reach first responders in a timely manner. They also discuss a podcast listener question on firework safety.