Smart Firefighting

Smart Firefighting Podcast covers real-world deployments of smart technologies through conversations with technologists, innovators, companies, and forward-thinking public safety and government agencies. Learn from interviews with leaders as they share their insights and offer their expertise every week! ​ Host Kevin Sofen is a co-founding member of the Smart First Responder Community who loves to explore change management and technology in public safety.

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Episodes

Thursday Dec 07, 2023

Why does hands-on tech experience matter?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!
Thanks for joining our 16 part FRST Challenge Mini Series recorded at the competition! Tracking and situational awareness has long been a problem for first responders. That's why the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FRST Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ competition is designed to pinpoint 3D tracking technologies that provide one-meter accuracy for first responders in indoor environments, crucial for enhancing their safety during rescue operations.
The 6 finalist teams competed in localization and ruggedization tests at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center from October 23-27, 2023. Winning teams gain access to funding, business support, and live field testing opportunities to evolve their solutions for real-world application.
In this episode:
Understand the significance of the immediate feedback loop for innovation
Learn how collaboration and integration are key to advancing technological solutions in emergencies
The importance of technology trial and adoption in critical scenarios.
Find out from Tammy McLean, the CEO of TechXEvents.
Backed by extensive experience and education in the marketing and events industries, Tammy launched TechXEvents to host and support custom public sector event and trade show projects.
TechXEvents specifically places innovative technology in first-responders hands in real-life and virtual emergency scenarios, plus provides end-to-end event management and marketing services for those projects.
So click play now to hear what she has to share, and stay tuned for the rest of our mini series!
Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.smartfirefighting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources!
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Thursday Nov 30, 2023

What is the value of AR for first responders?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!
Thanks for joining our 16 part FRST Challenge Mini Series recorded at the competition! Tracking and situational awareness has long been a problem for first responders. That's why the ⁠⁠⁠⁠FRST Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠ competition is designed to pinpoint 3D tracking technologies that provide one-meter accuracy for first responders in indoor environments, crucial for enhancing their safety during rescue operations.
The 6 finalist teams competed in localization and ruggedization tests at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center from October 23-27, 2023. Winning teams gain access to funding, business support, and live field testing opportunities to evolve their solutions for real-world application.
In this episode:
How is ARCortex using augmented reality to provide real-time support on the fire scene?
What does the evolution of tech mean for tomorrow's firefighters?
Explore ARCortex’s unique expertise in eyewear, AR cloud, and unique value for the emergency services sector
Hear from Yohan Baillot, the CEO and Founder of ARCortex.
As a pioneer for more than two decades in the field of Augmented Reality (AR), Yohan started his AR focused career working with the US Navy (BARS Program) and Army developing early prototypes.
He leveraged this experience and started ARCortex, a consulting practice focused on AR, which, over last 7 years, has supported various eyewears companies, AR startups, and enterprise clients.
So click play now to hear what he has to share, and stay tuned for the rest of our mini series!
Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.smartfirefighting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources!
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Wednesday Nov 22, 2023

Why actually listen to first responders?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!
Thanks for joining our 16 part FRST Challenge Mini Series recorded at the competition! Tracking and situational awareness has long been a problem for first responders. That's why the ⁠⁠⁠FRST Challenge⁠⁠⁠ competition is designed to pinpoint 3D tracking technologies that provide one-meter accuracy for first responders in indoor environments, crucial for enhancing their safety during rescue operations.
The 6 finalist teams competed in localization and ruggedization tests at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center from October 23-27, 2023. Winning teams gain access to funding, business support, and live field testing opportunities to evolve their solutions for real-world application.
In this episode:
How does the Columbus Fire Department integrate new tech with traditional firefighting values?
Examples of frontline scenarios that test the limits of indoor localization technologies
How can entrepreneurs best serve first responders?
So click play now to hear what Columbus Fire Department's Lieutenant Bryan Bailey has to share, and stay tuned for the rest of our mini series!
Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.smartfirefighting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources!
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Thursday Nov 16, 2023

A peek inside FirstNet Authority:
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!
Thanks for joining our 16 part FRST Challenge Mini Series recorded at the competition! Tracking and situational awareness has long been a problem for first responders. That's why the ⁠⁠FRST Challenge⁠⁠ competition is designed to pinpoint 3D tracking technologies that provide one-meter accuracy for first responders in indoor environments, crucial for enhancing their safety during rescue operations.
The 6 finalist teams competed in localization and ruggedization tests at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center from October 23-27, 2023. Winning teams gain access to funding, business support, and live field testing opportunities to evolve their solutions for real-world application.
In this episode:
How is FirstNet addressing the critical operational needs of first responders post-deployment?
What are the challenges and solutions in creating networks tailored for emergency services?
A look inside FirstNet’s journey and its ongoing mission to support public safety
Get the scoop from Gary McCarraher - one of FirstNet Authority's Senior Public Safety Advisor for the Fire Service.
The FirstNet Authority advances public safety communications tools and innovations. Through a combination of government, commercial, and public safety partnerships, they work to deliver a public safety broadband network and to support an ecosystem of apps, devices, and capabilities that are innovative, reliable, accessible, and secure.
So click play now to hear what he has to share, and stay tuned for the rest of our mini series!
Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.smartfirefighting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources!
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Tuesday Nov 14, 2023

“Potatoes sit in the barn until you have a recipe.” → It's not just about collecting data, but about making it meaningful for real-world applications...
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!
Thanks for joining our 16 part FRST Challenge Mini Series recorded at the competition! Tracking and situational awareness has long been a problem for first responders. That's why the ⁠FRST Challenge⁠ competition is designed to pinpoint 3D tracking technologies that provide one-meter accuracy for first responders in indoor environments, crucial for enhancing their safety during rescue operations.
The 6 finalist teams competed in localization and ruggedization tests at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center from October 23-27, 2023. Winning teams gain access to funding, business support, and live field testing opportunities to evolve their solutions for real-world application.
In this episode:
What is cognitive load theory?
What technology doesn’t distract from real-time situations / the task at hand?
How is Ascent building technology to get a “dot on the map” that helps incident commanders know where their people are?
Explore Ascent’s commercial launch with fire departments in Q4 2024
Learn from returning guest Alex Gorsuch - the co-founder and CTO at Ascent Integrated Tech.
The Ascent team builds the Common Operational Picture (COP) dashboard for firefighters and warfighters by providing actionable insight on the health and location of the operator while mapping the battlespace.
Alex leads the development of tools to measure and optimize both cognitive and physiological readiness of first responders and warfighters as well as lead the development of ATAK (Android Tactical Assault Kit) integration.
So click play now to hear what he has to share, and stay tuned for the rest of our mini series!
Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.smartfirefighting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources!
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Thursday Nov 09, 2023

How can I explain the sea to a frog that has never left its pond?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!
Thanks for joining our 16 part FRST Challenge Mini Series recorded at the competition! Tracking and situational awareness has long been a problem for first responders. That's why the FRST Challenge competition is designed to pinpoint 3D tracking technologies that provide one-meter accuracy for first responders in indoor environments, crucial for enhancing their safety during rescue operations.
The 6 finalist teams competed in localization and ruggedization tests at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center from October 23-27, 2023. Winning teams gain access to funding, business support, and live field testing opportunities to evolve their solutions for real-world application.
In this episode:
How to transform public safety from a cost burden to a vital, value-adding factor
The paradigm shift in funding public safety and its impact on urban environments
Insights on maintaining vigilance in safety, even when the immediate dangers are not visible
Hear from returning guest Stefan Truthän - the CEO of hhpberlin.
With customized fire protection concepts, effective solutions and future-oriented engineering methods, hhpberlin accompanies their customers from the idea to the finished building.
So click play now to hear what he has to share, and stay tuned for the rest of our mini series!
Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.smartfirefighting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources!
⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Tuesday Oct 31, 2023

Is your shower soap good enough?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!
Thanks for joining our 10 part FRI Mini Series recorded at the ⁠⁠⁠Fire-Rescue International (FRI)⁠⁠⁠ conference which was hosted by the ⁠⁠⁠International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)⁠⁠⁠. Each summer, thousands of the most prominent fire and emergency service leaders from around the globe come to FRI. This year, we headed to Kansas City, Missouri at the Kansas City Convention Center, August 16 - 18, 2023 to learn, network, and collaborate together!
In this episode:
Showers within the hour is great, but not when the soap doesn’t work!
Why standard soap does not work with carcinogen and smell removal
Integrating charcoal and science based tactics to support carcinogen removal
Get the inside scoop from Dee Howard - the co-founder and Chairperson of SOOTSOAP Supply Co.
SOOTSOAP is an all natural, industrial-strength line of detoxifying, deodorizing and sanitizing products lab-developed for the toughest jobs.
Designed for firefighters and proven to eliminate more toxins, SOOTSOAP harnesses the power of Binchotan White Charcoal and other natural powerhouse ingredients to draw out harmful chemicals, pollutants and impurities to provide the deepest clean for those exposed to contaminants.
SOOTSOAP is all natural, 100% biodegradable, firefamily owned and operated and proudly made in Canada. A portion of proceeds go to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network to assist firefighters dealing with cancer.
So click play now to hear what she has to share, and that's a wrap for our FRI Mini Series! Thanks a ton for tuning in!
Head to ⁠⁠⁠www.smartfirefighting.com⁠⁠⁠ to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources!
⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Thursday Oct 26, 2023

A company that's changing the fire service:
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!
Thanks for joining our 10 part FRI Mini Series recorded at the ⁠⁠Fire-Rescue International (FRI)⁠⁠ conference which was hosted by the ⁠⁠International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)⁠⁠. Each summer, thousands of the most prominent fire and emergency service leaders from around the globe come to FRI. This year, we headed to Kansas City, Missouri at the Kansas City Convention Center, August 16 - 18, 2023 to learn, network, and collaborate together!
In this episode:
What does a common operating picture look like in 2023?
How to manage Risk–Response–Resilience
How to turn pre-planning efforts into actionable insights
Find out from Intterra's Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Robert Edson!
Rob calls himself a "rainmaker with purpose" and an "enterprise sales Jedi Master" given his extensive experience growing revenue with enterprise strategic accounts direct and through channels, building teams, and foundations for substantially increased sales velocity.
Intterra's mission is to bring focused, SaaS and cloud-based workflows and services together in one accessible location so firefighters have the information that they need – when they need it.
So click play now to hear what he has to share, and stay tuned for the rest of the Mini Series!
Head to ⁠⁠www.smartfirefighting.com⁠⁠ to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources!
⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn

Monday Oct 23, 2023

$11 MILLION PRIZE!
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!
We're taking a quick pause from our FRI Mini Series to tell you why you should join a team for XPrize's upcoming competition!
In this episode:
What is the XPrize competition?
Rethinking how to fight wildfires using space and autonomous response
Insights into the life of a wildland firefighter
Find out from XPrize's Technical Lead Jay Stalnacker!
The $11M XPRIZE Wildfire is a 4-year competition to innovate firefighting technologies that will end destructive wildfires. The space-based track closes October 31st and the autonomous response track closes on January 31, 2024. Visit www.xprize.org/wildfire to learn more and register.
XPRIZE Wildfire is offered in partnership with Co-Title Sponsors Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and Pacific Gas & Electric, Presenting Sponsor Minderoo Foundation, Bonus Prize Sponsor Lockheed Martin and Supporting Sponsors Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Costa Navarino, and individual benefactors.
Head to ⁠www.smartfirefighting.com⁠ to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources!
⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn

Thursday Oct 19, 2023

How can you prevent line of duty death by heart attack?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!
Thanks for joining our 10 part FRI Mini Series recorded at the ⁠Fire-Rescue International (FRI)⁠ conference which was hosted by the ⁠International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)⁠. Each summer, thousands of the most prominent fire and emergency service leaders from around the globe come to FRI. This year, we headed to Kansas City, Missouri at the Kansas City Convention Center, August 16 - 18, 2023 to learn, network, and collaborate together!
In this episode:
Creative methods to reduce first responder stress levels
Differences between audible & haptic alarms for first responder alerting
Peer reviewed science that proves the effectiveness of heart smart alerting system
Learn from ⁠Blake Richardson - the co-founder and CEO of EaseAlert.
EaseAlert is a novel firefighter alerting system which uses vibrating wearable devices to gently alert crew members. This tactile alert is designed to reduce stress and improve efficiency by mitigating the harmful startle response associated with the alarm and improving quality of sleep.
So click play now to hear what he has to share, and stay tuned for the rest of the Mini Series!
Head to ⁠www.smartfirefighting.com⁠ to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources!
⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn

Smart Firefighting

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