Richmond Fire-Rescue is undergoing a trial of a new communication system that will alert drivers when fire trucks are nearby.
The new alert system embedded into the fire trucks communicates with smart vehicles, or vehicles with integrated GPS maps, that show drivers on their screens when a fire truck is ahead or approaching them during an emergency response.
Firefighters must rush out of the fire hall as soon as they get an emergency call, with every second crucial.
Fire Chief Jim Wishlove described the system as a form of "risk reduction" for not only the community but also for his crew members.
“It reduces that potential moment of conflict between our crews when they’re running for the emergency call, and people on the road who are just trying to get through their day-to-day stuff,” said Wishlove.
“Every second counts for us when we are reporting to an emergency, and this will benefit everyone in the area.”
He told the Richmond News two fire trucks have been testing the technology for just under a year and they are in discussion with the technology company to have it installed into the rest of the 16 Richmond fire trucks within the next few months.
Wishlove said he is hoping to have the system fully rolled out by June.
During the trial period with the two trucks, the fire department sent out around 2,500 alerts to vehicles on the road each month.
The alerts notified smart vehicles within 100 metres of the trucks, according to Wishlove.
“If we’ve got multiple vehicles, it would be two or three blocks apart,” he added.
Wishlove said he came across the technology when he heard a volunteer department on the East Coast using it and became interested in bringing it to Richmond.
“This system would allow us to give alerts to cars on the routes to allow them the opportunity to miss getting into collisions with us and avoid cleaner routes to get there,” he said.
“I think it’s a worthwhile cause. With new technology, who knows what’s going to happen in three years, so we’re looking at adopting something new to help everyone.”
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