S&T—in collaboration with FEMA, USFA, and other key stakeholder experts—determined WUI incidents and life-saving functions as the optimal areas for S&T to explore technology innovation.
DHS S&T, FEMA and USFA are working closely with the national and international first responder community on the growing problem of fires in the wildland-urban interface (WUI).
Police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other emergency response personnel use tactical eyewear to protect their eyes when working in the field. Common hazards that responders use tactical spectacles and goggles to protect against include shrapnel, blunt objects, chemicals, and blood and other biohazards. Included report: focus group report.
In close partnership with first responders at all levels, S&T identifies, validates, and facilitates the fulfillment of needs through the use of existing and emerging technologies, knowledge products, and standards.
As floods, wildfires, and violent storms in rural areas continue to increase, volunteer firefighters play an essential role despite the fact they often find themselves without the resources of larger agencies.
In support of the TechSolutions Program within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) conducted an independent and comprehensive operational field assessment of the commercially-available Remote Access Firefighting Assistance Vehicle (RAFAV) which is manufactured by Howe and Howe Technologies. The purpose of the field assessment was to provide an opportunity for firefighters to test and evaluate the effectiveness of the RAFAV during simulated emergency response operations to determine if it would be a valuable tool for the firefighting community.
The purpose of this guide is to provide the NICS User Community with the most current, validated set of guidelines and best practices when supporting Fire & Rescue Operations in NICS. This information is based upon extensive user experiences gained since 2011 on hundreds of operations, and is intended to help evolve a standardized use and understanding of NICS by all community members.
The intensity of the recent drought in California is currently ranked at D4, the highest rating on the National Drought Mitigation Center’s scale. The dry environment and combined winds often generate the volatile conditions conducive to wildfires.
In 2011, CAL FIRE approached the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate’s First Responders Group (FRG) requesting assistance in developing prototype garments.
Over the past few weeks firefighters from local, state, and federal agencies have been tirelessly working to battle several large fires across the country. Most importantly, we want to recognize their sacrifice and determination to protect lives and property. Thousands of first responders from all levels of government have come together to bravely fight the blazes on the front lines.