First Responders

A new Google and Muon-backed satellite wildfire detection system promises faster alerts and high-resolution fire imagery. But with false alarms already straining fire crews, its real impact may depend on trust.

System issues were behind intermittent disruptions to Next-Generation 911 earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency said in a preliminary report. A cyber attack is not believed to be behind it.

A five-city tech collaboration led by Virginia Beach, Va., will connect it with four neighbors through computer-aided dispatch. It will replace manual call transfers with real-time emergency data sharing across jurisdictions.

Los Angeles County leaders are considering a registry that would connect people with disabilities and seniors with emergency responders during disasters. Disability advocates say these registries offer a false sense of security.

The police drone program began in 2023, in response to thrill-seeking stunts that have lead to at least 16 deaths. In related news, the city has debuted a public safety alert tool on a popular app.

The 8,140-acre Turner Gulch Fire is currently the largest burning in Colorado, but the nearly 15,000-acre Deer Creek Fire in Utah crossed the state border Monday. Officials anticipate more dangerous fire activity ahead.

Training poses deadly risks for firefighters. Researchers are experimenting with new augmented and virtual reality technologies to allow first responders to learn life-saving skills without risking their own.

Though the sheriff's office has employed drones over the past decade, this new model will be remotely launched from a substation to respond to active crimes and emergency incidents over the next year.

The state’s 911 tech management authority is deploying a new tool from Motorola Solutions that could ease burdens for call takers and dispatchers. It could also help agencies deal with hiring woes.

The local government will embark on a nearly $3.7 million capital project to refresh its computer-aided dispatch system. Officials will work with other nearby counties on an 18- to 24-month implementation schedule.

Resilient regions and organizations require well thought out disaster plans addressing recovery and mitigation. In creating them, state officials said, collaboration with other governments and communities is essential.

The public safety tech vendor has attracted critics opposed to its data and surveillance polices. The company’s CEO has come out in defense of the company and set fresh policies and counter measures.

The federal government has announced plans to end the use of satellite data that hurricane experts say is crucial to tracking storms and spotting the early warning signs of rapid intensification.

The move represents the latest example of investors putting capital into the emergency dispatch technology space, which is rapidly growing. GovWorx uses artificial intelligence to help 911 call centers improve operations.

The North Area Technical Rescue Team is a 30-year-old, 150-member group that performs specialized rescues in Denver’s northern suburbs, including rope, confined space, trench and collapse rescues.

A new State of the 9-1-1 Industry report examines the barriers governments face as they work toward Next-Generation 911, including aging equipment, lack of funding and difficulty coordinating with other agencies.

Officials in Grand Traverse County, Mich., are seeking county board approval for an artificial intelligence-powered “call taking system” that would help identify and reroute non-emergency calls to 911.

A real-time crime center can be a force multiplier for law enforcement. Using the power of AI and cloud-based technologies, together with a foundation of community trust, is the future of policing.