Robotic Firefighting Units
What it improves: Firefighter safety in high-risk structural fires.
Drones aren't the only unmanned technology reshaping the fire service. Remote-controlled ground robots are now entering structures too dangerous for human firefighters. They clear debris, suppress flames, and create safe paths into buildings on fire.
The Los Angeles Fire Department became the first U.S. fire department to deploy a robotic firefighting vehicle in October 2020, when it debuted the Thermite RS3, built by Textron's Howe & Howe Technologies. The RS3 is a 3,500-pound, remote-controlled unit about the size of a Smart car, capable of flowing up to 2,500 gallons of water per minute—far more than a human firefighter can handle with a hose. It can also extend its hose up to 300 feet horizontally or 150 feet vertically. It's equipped with high-definition cameras and thermal imaging, giving operators a clear view of conditions inside a structure without putting a person there.
The RS3 has proven to be more than a demonstration piece. Over its first three years in service, LAFD deployed the robot to 39 commercial structure fires. It successfully pushes through smoldering debris, creating clear paths for crews, and operating in conditions too hazardous for firefighters to enter safely.
The math is simple. Departments can afford to lose a machine. They can’t afford to lose a firefighter.
LAFD's success has encouraged other departments to explore similar technology. Rosenbauer's RM35, a comparable remote-controlled tracked robot, has been tested by departments including Roseville, Minnesota's fire department. In the coming years, robotic ground units may become a more common part of the fire service's toolkit.
Personnel Location Equipment
What it improves: Firefighter accountability systems and rescue response time.
On the scene of an emergency, firefighter accountability is one of the most critical functions of the incident command system. This is especially true in the case of an unforeseen event such as a structural collapse. Quickly locating an injured or trapped firefighter can make the difference between life or death.
Pinpointing the exact location of firefighters has been a longstanding challenge. Fire technology such as radios and GPS can be unreliable inside buildings. But there are several types of new firefighter technology that use more effective tracking methods. With most of these, firefighters wear small devices that transmit their exact location to a command system.
Some of these technologies even integrate with firefighter safety equipment to help commanders monitor each firefighter's air levels, thermal alarms, radio connectivity, and more. Ascent Integrated Tech's Shield platform tracks firefighters' exact location on the X, Y, and Z axes inside multi-story buildings, while also monitoring real-time biometrics like heart rate and body temperature. The Indianapolis Fire Department has been testing the technology using digital models of its own stations and training facilities to fine-tune real-world performance.
In-Helmet Thermal Imaging Displays
What it improves: Situational awareness in low-visibility conditions.
Hand-held thermal imaging cameras have been a part of firefighter tools and equipment for decades.
The thermal imaging camera (TIC) has improved over the years, becoming smaller and more accurate. Many companies even started making cameras that attach to firefighters’ helmets, freeing up their hands for other tasks.
One of the latest advances in technology in the fire service is a helmet that incorporates a thermal imaging camera into the face piece. This gives firefighters constant visibility in thick smoke while leaving their hands free. Systems like C-THRU go a step further, using thermal imaging to create a real-time overlay of the edges of objects in a firefighter's field of view, giving them more awareness of what's around them.
Another example of this technology is 3M Scott Sight, an in-mask thermal imaging system. Now in its second generation, it has an advanced Pro Package with hot-spot tracking, cold-spot tracking, and automatic tactical video recording.
"Scott Sight was designed to be adaptable for ongoing and emerging technologies and firefighter needs…With this evolution of the technology, the Scott Sight Pro Package takes the industry's first in-mask thermal intelligence system to a new level of safety and performance."
— Jeff Emery, Global Business Unit Leader, SCBA and Fire Solutions at 3M Scott Fire & Safety
Mobile Technology
What it improves: On-scene communication and connectivity.
Mobile apps and tools are impacting every industry, and fire is no exception. Every firefighter carries some sort of mobile device, and fire departments are starting to use them to improve communication and situational awareness.
After 9/11, public safety leaders recognized the importance of mobile technology in the fire service, pushing for a nationwide public safety broadband network. AT&T partnered with the First Responder Network Authority to build that network, and in 2026, launched the nation's first 5G Standalone core dedicated exclusively to public safety. It gives first responders faster upload speeds, improved reliability, and network security that exceeds commercial standards.
FirstNet gives responders priority access to the network, separating public safety traffic from commercial traffic entirely. This ensures first responders aren't competing with everyday cell users for bandwidth, and can communicate effectively when commercial networks are overloaded during large-scale emergencies.
Beyond network infrastructure, mobile apps provide firefighters with practical, on-the-job resources. Apps can help with things like calculating pump pressure, identifying drugs, and keeping track of personal health goals.
Mobile technology also streamlines internal operations. Cloud-based tools like PowerDMS let firefighters access policies and procedures on the go. Not only that, commanders can quickly share critical information on risks, tactics, and procedures to keep firefighters up-to-date and ready for action.
Smart Jackets
What it improves: Firefighter health monitoring and injury prevention.
Firefighter safety goes beyond protection from fire, smoke, and structural hazards. It also includes monitoring your firefighters' personal health.
In 2025, overexertion and strain were the leading causes of on-duty firefighter fatalities. They were responsible for 45% of on-duty deaths, according to NFPA's most recent annual report.
Of course, fire departments can’t monitor every aspect of firefighter health and wellness. But some firefighting innovations are combining multiple technologies in one to keep firefighters healthy and safe. Some companies are developing firefighter jackets that use the latest fire-resistant fabrics and also incorporate personnel tracking technology and sensors that monitor heart rate, temperature, and motion.
While not many of these combined jacket technologies are on the market yet, there are plenty of technologies that help monitor physical stressors that firefighters face on the job. As firefighting technology advances, these monitors can help keep firefighters safe by alerting them when they’re at risk for overexertion.
Cloud Computing
What it improves: Data accessibility and operational continuity.
Tracking fire data can improve everything from predicting fire dynamics to response times. Cloud-based, public safety technology can help fire departments make sense of the increasing amount of data flowing in from sensors, drones, and mobile devices. Many software solutions include components that analyze data to show big-picture trends, issues, and potential risks.
Cloud-based software such as PowerDMS stores all department data in one secure location, reducing the risk of essential documents getting lost or damaged. It also ensures everything stays up to date and accessible from anywhere.
Smarter Dispatch
What it improves: Response times and the accuracy of incident information.
In the past few years, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) technology has transformed dispatching in the fire service. CAD systems help dispatchers quickly gather the information they need and share it with the correct response team.
New dispatching technology helps reduce response times and maximize efficiency. Some even integrate with mobile apps to provide route recommendations, pre-incident planning, and information on hazardous materials.
Dispatching technology is also beginning to integrate different forms of communication. For example, Next Generation 911 (NG911) is rolling out nationwide, allowing emergency callers to communicate with dispatchers through text messages, photos, voice recordings, and videos.
AI in the Fire Service
What it improves: Dispatch efficiency, risk prediction, and early fire detection.
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming one of the most significant forces reshaping fire service operations. It’s already improving how departments detect, predict, and respond to emergencies.
AI-assisted dispatch is helping call centers process incidents faster and more accurately. Modern CAD platforms are increasingly building AI directly into the dispatch workflow, automating unit assignment based on real-time location, call classification, and resource availability. These systems can also flag nearby hazards and reduce the cognitive load on dispatchers during high-volume incidents.
Predictive risk analytics are giving departments a new way to anticipate danger before it strikes. AI models can now ingest weather forecasts, terrain data, and real-time sensor inputs to flag high-risk conditions and recommend pre-positioning crews and equipment accordingly. For wildfires specifically, AI-powered fuel mapping tools identify high-risk zones before a fire ever starts, while spread models help departments forecast a fire's likely path once it does.
Camera networks are catching fires within minutes of ignition, often before a single 911 call comes in. Pano AI's tower-mounted camera network, deployed across 10 states, uses AI to scan for smoke and flag potential wildfires in real time. During Washington's 2023 Jackson Road Fire, the system helped cut response time by 20 to 30 minutes, keeping the fire contained to just 23 acres. In California, the ALERTCalifornia network operates more than 1,200 AI-assisted cameras statewide, filtering footage around the clock to alert responders to smoke and flame before residents even notice.
Training Technology
What it improves: Training realism and administrative efficiency.
It can be difficult for agencies to simulate many of the dangerous situations firefighters encounter. Fortunately, firefighter training is also being transformed by public safety technology.
Virtual reality fire training has moved from an experimental concept to a proven tool. East Meadow Fire Department's VR training platform runs up to 60 fire scenarios using a high-pressure hose and nozzle with realistic force feedback. Trainees can also wear a heat-feedback vest that warms as the virtual fire approaches, delivering realism without the risk or cost of live-burn training.
"Virtual reality will never replace real fireground experience, but those opportunities are increasingly rare," said the department's training academy director. "The academy serves 72 departments, so we only get a few live-burn days each year."
Technology is also transforming the classroom side of training. Online training tools like PowerDMS let firefighters complete coursework on their own schedule. It gives administrators visibility into training trends across the department along with complete, individual training records—replacing the manual tracking that used to consume an administrator's time.
How to Adopt New Technology in Your Department
With so many technologies covered in this article, it's worth stepping back from the "what" and addressing the "how." Instead of chasing every new innovation, your agency should follow a deliberate adoption process that matches its actual needs and capacity.
Identify Grant Funding
Cost is one of the biggest barriers to technology adoption, but departments don't have to cover it alone. The Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program has awarded roughly $9 billion since 2001 to help departments acquire equipment, training, and other resources that improve firefighter and community safety. Individual awards can range from just over $500 to more than $3 million, depending on your department's size and the program.
Beyond AFG, FEMA also offers the SAFER program for staffing and the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant for prevention-focused initiatives. Each grant is worth reviewing before assuming that new technology is out of reach.
Pilot with One Crew
Rolling out new technology department-wide before testing it is a common and costly mistake. Start with a single crew or station. Give staff time to learn the tool, find problems, and provide honest feedback before expanding further. A successful pilot also builds internal buy-in. After all, firefighters trust technology recommended by their peers more than technology mandated from the top down.
Write Policies Before Deployment
New technology without a governing policy creates confusion, inconsistent use, and liability exposure. Before a tool reaches the field, your department needs clear guidance on when and how it's used, who's trained to use it, and how data is stored and handled. This step is easy to skip under the pressure to deploy quickly, but it's the one most likely to protect your department later.
Technology can improve how your department operates, but only when it's adopted deliberately. By evaluating need, securing funding, piloting carefully, and documenting policy before deployment, your agency can realize the full potential of its new tech.
PowerDMS can help. It simplifies policy management and brings fire training, accreditation, staff scheduling, and early intervention together in one integrated platform. When new technology reaches the field, your department's policies, training, and documentation are already in place to support it. Schedule a conversation today to learn how PowerDMS supports fire departments like yours nationwide.
FAQs
What technology do firefighters use today?
Modern fire departments rely on drones for scene assessment, thermal imaging cameras (TIC) built into helmets and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) face pieces, personnel tracking systems, computer-aided dispatch (CAD), and cloud-based policy and training software. Larger departments are adding AI tools for incident prediction and resource deployment. Adoption varies widely by budget, so most departments prioritize tools that directly improve firefighter accountability systems and scene safety first.
How is AI used in the fire service?
AI supports the fire service in three main areas: dispatch systems that recommend units and routes based on incident data, predictive analytics that flag high-risk structures and wildfire conditions before ignition, and camera networks that detect smoke in remote areas within minutes. None of it replaces firefighter judgment. It gives commanders better information earlier in an incident.
How much does firefighter technology cost?
Costs range from free mobile apps to six-figure programs. A department drone program typically runs $5,000 to $50,000 including training, while thermal imaging cameras cost $500 to $10,000 per unit. Many departments offset costs through Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and FEMA funding. Cloud-based software is usually priced per user annually, making it one of the more budget-predictable categories.
Why do fire departments need policies for new technology?
Every new tool changes how crews operate, so departments need policies covering authorized use, training requirements, data storage, and maintenance before deployment. With drone programs, for example, FAA Part 107 rules dictate pilot certification and flight restrictions. Documenting and distributing these policies through a system like PowerDMS keeps every firefighter signed off on current procedures.
