Smart Firefighting

Episode 116: Breaking Down the FRST Challenge with Chad Beam

This is the first episode of our FRST Challenge Breakdown Mini Series!
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!
In this episode:
- What is the value of 3D tracking for law enforcement?
- How can the FRST Challenge support innovation for all first responders?
- How entrepreneurs can bring new technology into public safety
Join our SFF Community!
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!
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Episode 115: The Evolving Landscape of the Human-Tech Interface with Ori Inbar

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Want to learn a thing or two about augmented reality? Then take a listen...
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!
In this episode:
- What is the changing landscape of XR tech & its impacts on public safety?
- How has human-computer interactions to human-world interactions evolved?
- A message for aspiring entrepreneurs / innovators in the world of XR
Joining as SFF's co-host is retired Caption Kirk Mckinzie along with our guest Ori Inbar, the founder of Super Ventures which was the FIRST early-stage fund dedicated to augmented reality (AR).
With an incredibly impressive track record under his belt, Ori is a recognized speaker in the AR industry, lecturer at NYU, as well as a sought after adviser & board member for AR startups. He's been an enterprising champion of the AR industry since 2007 when he established Games Alfresco - a leading augmented reality blog that helped popularize AR. Additionally, back in 2009, he was the co-founder & CEO of Ogmento, one of the first venture-backed companies conceived from the ground up to develop & publish augmented reality games - games like Pokemon Go.
Most notably, Ori is also the co-founder & CEO of Augmented World Expo AWE XR (formerly ARE) - a global community dedicated to advancing AR & virtual reality (VR). Since 2010, over 5,000 companies & 50,000 professionals have trusted AWE to connect, learn & grow their business in the XR ecosystem - via conferences, meetups, classes, award competitions, industry news & thousands of free videos about everything XR. Now in its 8th year, the conference has grown to be the world's largest and most influential conference for AR.
Want to join the XR community for FREE? Head to AWE.LIVE to register now for constant access to events, networking opportunities, virtual expos & more!
Connect with Ori Inbar: Twitter
Episode Resources:
- Edgybees Software
- QWAKE Technologies
- Fire Vision AR
Join our SFF Community!
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!
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Episode 114: Immersive Learning Technologies for Safety Training with Ruggiero Lovreglio

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Why do humans do what they do during disasters?
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service & technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!
In this episode:
- How does instinct impact training?
- What is the decision-making process during emergencies?
- How is technology enhancing evacuation & human behavior during disasters?
Learn about human behavior during disasters from the pioneer himself Dr. Ruggiero Lovreglio - AKA Rino. In 2018, Rino established the Digital Built Environment Lab, a research group that focuses on the use of digital technologies (e.g., VR, AR, BIM & IoT) for safety & disaster research. Currently, he is a Senior Lecturer at Massey University (NZ), an Associate Editor for Safety Science, Frontiers in Psychology & Frontiers in Computer Science, & is a member of the Editorial Board of Fire Safety Science, Fire Technology & Journal of Open House International.
During Rino's career, he has developed prototypes & tested new, immersive training tools for a range of safety training, including but not limited to construction health, flood & tsunami safety training & counter-terrorism safety training. Noting his 80+ scientific publications, several research projects (such as PI & co-PI), various collaborations with leading institutes - like MIT (US) - & wildfire investigations with the National Institute of Standards & Technology, Rino has spearheaded the use of immersive training in the safety domain.
Connect with Rino: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Episode Resources:
- Ruggiero (Rino) Lovreglio - Google Scholar
Join our SFF Community!
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!
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Episode 113: Current State of the Fire House Psyche - A New Spin from CRACKYL with Kory Pearn & Matt Rumas

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
How can we better the firefighter culture to accept that it is okay to not be okay?
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!
In this episode:
- What are the 6 pillars of the firefighter lifestyle?
- What is the physical & mental health of the fire house in 2022?
- How CRACKYL was built by the fire service, for the fire service
Who better to tell us about CRACKYL than the creator and Publisher Kory Pearn and current Sales Marketing Manager Matt Rumas?
Kory brings an eclectic background in publishing and firefighting to the magazine. Being a career firefighter of almost 19 years, Kory understands the role's dynamics and how it directly relates to physical and mental health - both on and off the job. He created CRACKYL to tackle those topics in a way that encourages and supports firefighters on relatable levels. He wants everyone who picks up the magazine or reads it online to leave feeling a sense of camaraderie and inclusion.
Kory built CRACKYL around the six pillars of a firefighter including relationships, stress, finances, health, fitness & nutrition and lifestyle. He and his fantastic team at CRACKYL Magazine like Matt Rumas have sourced some of the best experts out there to tell the story of the firefighter - be it at the firehall or at home.
Matt is an experienced Sales Marketing Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the publishing industry. Skilled in Sales & Marketing, Sales, Media Sales, Business-to-Business (B2B) and Sales Process, he is a strong sales professional with a NFPA 1001 & 1002 focused in Firefighter 1 & 2, HazMaz Ops from Southern Arkansas University Tech.
Follow CRACKYL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Join our SFF Community!
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

Episode 112: Texas Public Safety Robotics Summit 2022: A Preview with Preston Culver

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
It's time to think of drones as another tool in the toolbox that can help first responders do their jobs more efficiently...
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!
In this episode:
- What value can your department gain from a drone program?
- What is the evolution of drones in the fire industry?
- What is the Texas Public Safety Robotics Summit 2022?
Hear from former Austin firefighter Preston Culver, AKA the Director of Marketing at Granite Defense Technologies and creative force behind their event #TXPSROBOTS. Granite Defense Technologies delivers integrated technology solutions to public safety and military communities via consulting, training, implementation, hardware and software sales as well as support on the industry's leading products. In collaborating with both first responders and product manufacturers, they are able to learn about current problems, explore possible solutions and test these solutions in environments mocking the real world.
Culver's current role provides marketing and consulting services for technology solutions that work with first responders and public safety drone programs, yet his various other roles include drone pilot, photographer, videographer, graphic designer, Houston-region account manager, curriculum developer, social media manager, web designer and event producer.
Culver has been crucial in the behind-the-scenes execution of the Texas Public Safety Robotics Summit 2022, a 3 day action-packed showcase for the use of robotics (air, water and ground) in public safety via keynote presentations, field demonstrations, training scenario stations, roundtable discussions and more. By connecting the dots between the industry and its end users, #TXSROBOTS aims to offer the resources needed to integrate a drone program in your department.
First responders, don’t miss out on March 28-30 - get your ticket today at www.txpsrobots.com.
Follow Granite Defense Technologies: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube
Join our SFF Community!
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

Episode 111: Using Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS) to Fight Fires & Cancer with Gary Baum

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
This firefighter's equipment uses better tech than most fire departments to keep him safe from carcinogens...
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!
In this episode:
- Why are firefighters' current gas detection meters not enough?
- What is a CAFS and why does the Class A foam differ?
- What is the science behind this better equipment?
Let's hear from the Deputy Fire Chief who has taken on the National Fire Academy's research himself Gary Baum. After Baum left the Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program as first in his class, he felt called to continue their efforts on fire ground carcinogen testing and reduction since he believes it can make a difference in firefighter health and safety while also applying his background knowledge in chemistry and physics stemming from his science teaching days.
On top of his research, Baum is Deputy Fire Chief of Reddick Community Fire District in Illinois, a Field Instructor with the Illinois Fire Service Institute, an instructor at FIRE LLC, and has been with Fox Valley Career Center for almost 25 years as the Fire Science Program Lead Instructor.
Join our SFF Community!
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

Episode 110: A Simple Box Combats Fires Worldwide with Rick Goddard

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Should the U.S. be next to use centralized aerial technology to stop rampant wildfires?
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!
In this episode:
- Why is the U.S. falling behind other countries in adopting cost-effective, proven technologies?
- How is Caylym stopping wildfires before they are out of control?
- Can you literally make it rain?
Well let's ask Rick Goddard, who is not only the principal designer at Caylym Technologies International but also the Managing Director / Chairman and former Marine Officer. Goddard leads a high-performing team committed to saving lives, homes and the environment through an advanced aerial firefighting system called Guardian™, a patented gravity based Low Velocity Air Drop System (LVADS) using Container Delivery System (CDS) based technology. In simple terms, Guardian™ is a container that releases 264 gallons of liquid below and behind an aircraft in an overlapping pattern to create an instant and accurate rainstorm.
The California-based company is helping 8 countries - and more soon - fight their wildfires, so why is the U.S. not using this home-grown, veteran-owned company for the wildfires accelerating across the West and the nation?
Follow Caylym: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Episode Resources:
- Fox26 News Article
- Fresno Bee Article
- Cal Matters Article
- Sacramento Bee Article
- CA Congressman Valadao Pleads U.S. Forest Service & Colleagues to Examine New Aerial Firefighting Technologies to Help Fight Fires in Home State (video) - “As California faces several devastating wildfires burning thorough our communities and beloved forest land, I ask my colleagues and the US Forest Service to consider investing in CAFFS and other technologies and resources… We have the responsibility to protect our communities and our environment, and the firefighters who run toward danger and sacrifice their safety for others.”
Join our SFF Community!
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

Episode 109: Leveraging Immersive Learning & Digital Engagement with Samantha Matthews

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Who says gamified content can't help first responders reduce risk?
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!
In this episode:
- How LOCI combines the human experience, our physical beings, & tech to enhance our lives
- How web 3.0 technologies increase safety & efficiencies
- How to build behavior-changing training tools
An early adopter of webXR and Web3 protocols, Samantha uses immersive learning, digital presence and web-based accessibility to build behavior-changing training tools and bring safety into the future. Full of passion with a desire to disrupt and advance society forward, the current CEO / CTO founded LOCI, a location-based game engine that generates gamified content based on surroundings that measurably reduces risk in any environment. The innovative safety training platform’s powerful no-code course creator lets those liable for the safety of others build custom learning experiences that empower people with stronger recall in times of emergency.
Connect with Samantha: LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
Follow LOCI: LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
Episode Resources:
- LOCI's YouTube Channel
- Learn By LOCI on Apple Podcasts
- Learn By LOCI on Spotify
Join our SFF Community!
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

Episode 108: First Responder Smart Tracking (FRST) Challenge with Dan Munsey & Stefan Truthän

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! This is the 4th and final episode of our FRST Challenge Mini Series!
It's time to understand the relationship between innovative engineering and public safety management, so let's hear from experts on both ends of the spectrum: "smart cities" visionary Stefan Truthän and Fire Chief Dan Munsey, MPA, CFO.
In this episode:
- What is FRST Challenge?
- Why do first responders need 3D tracking technology?
- How can you participate in the competition?
Chief Munsey has been with San Bernardino County Fire Department for over 26 years, working his way up the ladder until he became Chief more than 2 years ago. Truthän may not be a firefighter himself, but proven by his 20 years as CEO of hhpberlin, his engineering career has been dedicated towards reshaping the first responder industry into a safer, more sustainable and more comfortable environment. With a special focus on "smart cities" - a technologically modern urban area that uses different types of methods and sensors to collect specific data - Truthän offers context into how FRST Challenge competitors' tracking device submissions would greatly improve the quality of firefighters' operations while Chief Munsey references his experiences in the field to provide insights into why first responders desperately need this technology.
FRST Challenge exists to identify 3D tracking technology that can give first responders one-meter accuracy in an indoor setting (use cases include emergency rescue operations and survivor location within large buildings) and to provide competitors with entrepreneurial mentoring. Funded by PSCR, a total of up to $5.6 million in prizes and support funding will be distributed across all 5 phases to aid participants in purchasing materials, forming teams, and creating partnerships to develop their innovation. Prize money grows as teams advance through each phase, and several winners will ultimately be selected in Phase 5 to receive the largest cash prizes.
The application for Phase 1 is due on January 31, 2022, so email info@FRSTChallenge.com to find out how to participate!
Follow FRST Challenge: Twitter | Facebook
Join our SFF Community!
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

Episode 107: First Responder Smart Tracking (FRST) Challenge with Jaap de Vries

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! This is the 3rd episode of our FRST Challenge Mini Series!
Here's how you can join Jaap de Vries, Ph.D. in creating a smarter, more resilient future for first responders...
In this episode:
- What is FRST Challenge?
- Why do first responders need 3D tracking technology?
- How can you participate in the competition?
Previous VP of Innovation, Science and Technology for FM Global - a mutual insurance company whose capital, scientific research capability and engineering expertise are solely dedicated to property risk management and the resilience of our client-owners - de Vries was responsible for building a network of sources to identify, research and assess emerging signals of change in the market, new technologies and scientific advances. His main goal was to discover and develop new opportunities to guide strategic planning efforts. During his time, de Vries established the company’s Advanced Technology Laboratory in Norwood, MA, and demonstrated augmented reality, virtual reality, drone technology and rapid prototyping.
Since creating new opportunities via technology has always been the focus of his career, de Vries is eager to find out what innovators develop in the upcoming competition. FRST Challenge exists to identify 3D tracking technology that can give first responders one-meter accuracy in an indoor setting (use cases include emergency rescue operations and survivor location within large buildings) and to provide competitors with entrepreneurial mentoring. Funded by PSCR, a total of up to $5.6 million in prizes and support funding will be distributed across all 5 phases to aid participants in purchasing materials, forming teams, and creating partnerships to develop their innovation. Prize money grows as teams advance through each phase, and several winners will ultimately be selected in Phase 5 to receive the largest cash prizes.
The application for Phase 1 is due on January 31, 2022, so email info@FRSTChallenge.com to find out how to participate!
Follow FRST Challenge: Twitter | Facebook
Join our SFF Community!
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