Exclusive: The WFCA is putting wildfire on the map

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesIndustry SectorsWildland Fire
Take an inside look at the Western Fire Chiefs Association’s new Fire Map which provides near real-time information about active wildfires

Whilst they are no new phenomenon, with the number of wildfires increasing across the world the danger is closer to home for many. The mounting wildfire crisis in the US presents a very real and significant danger to people, homes, and communities – particularly those in wildfire urban interface settings.

Fires are most likely to take hold when moisture levels and humidity are low and temperatures are high. These conditions can be exacerbated by climate change and when environmental conditions reach a certain threshold in terms of available fuel and dryness, the risk of intense and dangerous fires can increase quickly. In response to the rising temperatures and increased risk of fire the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) introduces its Fire Map to provide near real-time information about active wildfires.

The WFCA Fire Map pulls data from the US Forest Service via National Interagency Fire Centre IRWIN feed and 911 Dispatch data via PulsePoint to track the location of the wildfire as they start and while they are burning. The WFCA Fire Map is the first map of its kind to pull this data from 911 Dispatch in relevant areas.

“The current climate situation is incredibly scary,” says Chief Mark Niemeyer, Vice President of the WFCA and Fire Chief of the Boise Fire Department. “The WFCA is providing public access to definitive information around the paths of wildfires so that communities can quickly take action.”

He continues: “The WFCA is committed to provide an even deeper level of intelligence around wildfires as they happen.” As the WFCA looks to the future, it is creating a development path in the next year which will include 3D and predictive mapping models, air quality and weather data, as well as text message notifications.

The Fire Map

The WFCA Fire Map was launched to provide near real-time information about active wildfires in a mobile[1]friendly platform. Brent VanKeulen, Deputy Director of the Western Fire Chiefs Association says the WFCA is providing the map to everyone free of cost, as a resource to save lives, land and property. He explains: “By providing public access to definitive information around the paths of wildfires, we are hopeful that communities can take quicker action to stay safe.”

 The WFCA Fire Map pulls together data supplied by the US Forest Service via National Interagency Fire Center IRWIN feed and combines it with 911 Dispatch data via PulsePoint. Together, this information is used to track the location of the wildfire both as it starts and whilst it is burning.

 The fire map was developed by Gartrell Group for the WFCA. Users can search for a fire by name, zoom to a location or zoom to their location and explore the area nearby. Where larger fires are mapped these will display the perimeter as changes are reported. Along with the map visualisation, the app provides details including fire size in acres, 24-hour growth, percent containment, number of personnel assigned, how long the fire has been active, and when the information was last updated.

The app features a share button and clicking this allows users to easily share information about a fire. There is also an embed option to link to a live map of the McKinney Fire. Users can click the fire symbol on the map to view information about the fire, and to share to social media. Other features such as weather and wind information are in the pipeline.

Looking ahead, the fire map in its current state is just the beginning. VanKeulen adds: “Wildfires will be a part of our lives for the foreseeable future. We will always have areas where people live in the forest. We need to focus on building adaptive communities so that we can be safe in the presence of fires. The WFCA and many other organizations are working towards solutions that help us adapt. The fire map is one of several initiatives.

PulsePoint

PulsePoint is a 501(c)(3) public non-profit foundation building applications created to help public safety agencies inform and engage their citizens. The development of the PulsePoint app began in June 2009 as a partnership between the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (SRVFPD), where its founder Richard Price was the chief, and the College of Informatics at Northern Kentucky University (NKU).

The application was released in the Apple App Store in April 2010. At a meeting almost a year later the Board of Directors of the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District established a committee to address the affairs related to the application, including the transfer of responsibility for the software to an independent and external non-profit foundation. This resulted in the formation of the PulsePoint Foundation to oversee the future direction of the application.

In September 2013 the PulsePoint Foundation entered into a strategic partnership with Physio-Control, Inc. to expand the availability of PulsePoint to public safety agencies and on January 1, 2017, these responsibilities transitioned back to the foundation. Physio-Control became an invaluable partner that helped establish a presence in the market and helped prove the value of using mobile technology to activate early bystander response in sudden cardiac emergencies.

As the WFCA looks to the future, it is creating a development path in the next year which will include 3D and predictive mapping models, air quality and weather data, as well as text message notifications. “The addition of text notifications will be a game changer.” Richard Price, Founder PulsePoint.

“We are excited to offer the opportunity for PulsePoint[1]connected agencies to seamlessly display fire incidents within the WFCA Fire Map.”

This article was originally published in the September edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Market Analysis: Personal Protective Equipment

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesPPEProducts
International Fire and Safety Journal analyses the current state of the firefighter protective clothing market

A s the challenges which face firefighting teams day-to-day are changing across the world, the safety of firefighters on the front lines remains a key concern for the industry. The rise of wildfire emergencies in regions where such incidents were rare if non-existent and the recognition by the World Health Organisation of the profession of firefighting as being carcinogenic are driving the firefighter protective clothing market around the world as the industry looks for new and improved ways to protect its first responders.

As the demand to increase the safety of firefighters grows, many manufacturers have been focused on the production of firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) with better washability characteristics to limit the decontamination or spread of infection. As wildfires have become more common, manufacturers have been responding by introducing PPE kits that are lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended periods. To encourage the usage of such PPE, next-generation networked PPE is being introduced with better analytical capabilities.

The rising number of fire incidents has resulted in a greater demand for firefighters, which is projected to drive the sales of firefighter PPE in the years ahead. Government mandates are expected to impact the safety of firefighters and create additional growth to this expanding market. As a result, the firefighter PPE market is likely to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.9%, in the long run, to reach a value of US$ 2.2 Billion in 2027, according to a market research report from Stratview Research.

Market segments

Based on the product type, the firefighter PPE market is segmented into apparel or wearable gear and helmets. According to Stratview research, the apparel segment is expected to witness faster growth during the forecast period as it is replaced more frequently compared to helmets. That said, helmets form the dominant segment, accounting for more than half of the market, and are expected to sustain their dominance throughout the forecast period.

In terms of regional demand, North America is expected to remain the largest market for firefighter PPE during the forecast period. The USA remains the world’s largest market for firefighter safety equipment, supported by a huge expenditure of the country on firefighter safety equipment.

Europe is also likely to create sizeable opportunities in the coming five years and is also estimated to remain the second-largest market by 2027. Meanwhile, the Asia[1]Pacific region is estimated to remain the fastest-growing market in the years to come, propelled by China, India, and Japan.

Regional forecast

With the increase in the global population and urbanisation, the demand for firefighting PPE is also increasing. On a regional basis, the market is broken down into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.

In North America, the region has a large number of industrial and commercial establishments, which are the major end-users of fire protective clothing. In addition, the presence of stringent government regulations regarding fire safety is also driving the growth of this market in North America.

Latin America has seen an increase in the number of industrial and commercial establishments in recent years which has led to an increased demand for firefighting protective clothing from these sectors. The growing awareness about fire safety is also contributing to the growth of this market in Latin America.

In Europe, the market in is expected to grow at a moderate rate in the years ahead. This can be attributed to the stringent government regulations regarding fire safety in this region. The presence of a large number of industrial and commercial establishments is also driving the growth of this market in Europe. In addition, the increasing presence of wildfires is likely to create a shift towards fire brigades adopting alternative firefighting suits for different scenarios.

Marko de Klein, Executive Sales Manager at MSA Bristol, said that different countries within Europe are facing heightened wildfire scenarios which will factor into the development of firefighter protective clothing.

For the Asia Pacific region, the fire protective clothing market is expected to witness significant growth in the years ahead due to the increasing incidences of fires and other accidents in this region. In addition, the growing awareness about fire safety is also contributing to the growth of this market in the Asia Pacific.

In the Middle East and Africa region, a moderate growth rate is anticipated during the coming years. This can be attributed to the presence of a large number of industrial and commercial establishments in this region. As with all other regions, the growing awareness about fire safety is also contributing to the growth of this market in the region.

This article was originally published in the September edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.