Editor's Note

Taking the Heat

• By Ralph C. Jensen
• May 01, 2007

IN October 2006, the Baton Rouge, La., Fire Department conducted a week-long training exercise to test its Virtual Command Technology when responding to a fire. This was the first time the technology was tested by a city department.

VCT is not just another alarm system. It is the future of intelligent incident management. According to officials at NetTalon Security Systems, the technology is three-pronged. First, it networks a protected facility to 911 fire dispatch for instant notification and a virtual look inside the building to validate an actual incident. It also allows fire officers to virtually view fire in a building from mobile data computers while en route. And finally, at the site of the fire, it provides the fire-ground commander a continuous view of the fire’s behavior. This enables precise deployment of engine companies during attack, rescue and ventilation operations.

When Baton Rouge firefighters began this week-long training, the comparison effort included shifts A and B with four engine companies, an aerial company and district chiefs assigned to those shifts. Each shift participated in four exercises. Two companies used the Virtual Command and two companies did not. The exercises were comparative and used where the building was either protected by sprinklers or was without protection. Each shift responded to four different fire incidents where scenarios were planned for a fire on a single floor. Fire officials rated the exercise with high marks, as fire and suppression conditions were simulated in a realistic manner.

The scenarios were unknown to participants, and crews were intact throughout the exercise. Performance data was collected to assess the effectiveness on the fire ground.

For starters, the State Administrator for Planning and Control provided the A.Z. Young building for the comparative evaluation. It is a 250,000 square foot, five-story structure with an operations fire code compliance system. The building had been vacated and was ready for implosion. NetTalon Security installed its own System 3000, along with smoke detectors and temperature sensors. At the start of the exercise, notification of an alarm took one second and validation of an actual incident took less than a minute. The dispatch operator spent a short time observing the graphic display for further indications of fire development.

Critical to the nature of firefighting, the district chief was viewing the fire within seconds of dispatch notification and requesting additional manpower prior to arriving on the site. Important to remember is the operator was able to spend time observing the graphic display for fire development, which significantly impacts response type and speed. Because of validation by Virtual Command Technology, responding units know they are responding to an actual incident, allowing them the ability to prepare accordingly. Sufficient manpower can be called out once the district chief has observed the fire, and sufficient movement of personnel and equipment can be on the move in less than two minutes.

The ability to dispatch personnel within a minute of initial alarm puts the responding firefighters on the fire-ground early in the fire development. Early notification provides a significant opportunity to mitigate a small fire and tremendously reduce property damage.

This technology reflects fast response, and use of it allows the first captain to know a precise fire’s location, where to position an engine and now move the fire crew directly to the incident upon arrival. In this test case, the first engine is on the fire ground within four minutes of the fire’s development. The first crew is in the stairwell for the best approach in a little more than five minutes. Comparatively, the conventional notification time puts the first fire crew in the building at nine minutes, but not knowing where the fire is located. Four minutes difference may not seem like much time, but take into account a fire can double every minute.

Perhaps the most important point is that by using VCT, the first engine company knew the location of the incident and encountered a much smaller fire than in the conventional response. Using the technology, the fire crews physically found the fire in less than 50 seconds, while those working without the technology took four minutes. Quickly locating the fire, and fighting a smaller fire, has a tremendous impact on firefighter safety. It also reduces flashover potential and leads to less time on the fire-floor, decreasing the possibility of running out of air. Using VCT, the incident was essentially over in 10 minutes from the time of the building alarm. Without the technology, the time was 18 minutes.

After securing their own safety, firefighters’ most important mission is to rescue victims. Today’s technology offers a higher capability to rescue victims and reduce property loss.

We’re pleased to bring to you this month a fire safety article that details how to protect high-value assets. We also have included in this issue a supplement on Fire and Life Safety. It’s all part of the security industry in terms of networking and protecting life and property, including the kitchen sink.

No doubt if it’s hot in the kitchen, there’s probably a fire, and it’s better to know ahead of time what you might face so you can hit the ground running with all the information available.