The Future of Connectivity in Fire and Safety

One of the longstanding challenges in emergency services has been assuring 2-way voice transmission on the correct TAC channel and connecting disparate radio systems. Radio over IP (RoIP) has emerged as a fresh need for interoperability. By converting radio traffic into Internet Protocol (IP), RoIP allows different agencies and devices to communicate across networks, improving voice and data transfer more economically.  

In practice, RoIP gateways can bridge fire, police, EMS radios, and cell phones into a single network. As one emergency communications director explains, RoIP provides a “fast, flexible interoperability solution for all organizations…without changing out their existing radio equipment.” A rural Washington State network linked 42 agencies via RoIP and boosted coverage from 5% to 90% in areas where a deputy had once lost his life due to comms dead zones.  

By extending radio reach beyond legacy boundaries and incorporating any authorized device, RoIP democratizes connectivity enabling everyone, from the chief to a first-year volunteer on a hose line, to stay connected. This kind of interoperability is foundational to a common emergency operating picture. 

Modern incidents demand that all responders share timely and consistent situational awareness. A COP can provide a real-time graphical view of the incident, including unit locations, current and expected fireline projections, hazard data, weather, and more, accessible to everyone from dispatch to crews on the scene. By integrating GIS maps, apparatus tracking (including mechanical health), personnel location, and physiological sensor feeds into one dashboard, a COP ensures that responders have a shared understanding of the situation. 

For example, a wildfire COP might display the fire perimeter from satellite imagery, the locations of crews and bulldozers via GPS, and forecasted wind shifts, enabling different agencies to coordinate efficient management tactics. Such shared situational intel greatly enhances multi-agency interoperability and communication, reorganizing old data silos between fire, police, and emergency management. Connectivity technologies like RoIP and COP turn fragmented data into a unified command strategy. 

Unlike consumer networks, FirstNet maintains an open bandwidth for first responders, even when public networks are congested. This means that where FirstNet has coverage and sufficient data is available, incident commanders can use tablets to view drone feeds or access building plans in real-time, and firefighters can transmit their GPS location and telemetry without interruptions.  

High-bandwidth connectivity on the fireground enables an unprecedented “common operating picture” accessible to dismounted operators, firefighters, and incident commanders. 

Such satellite-to-cell tech essentially creates a pop-up network at the incident–field units’ smartphones connect to overhead satellites for basic messaging when regular comms fail. Additionally, agencies deploy portable satellite Wi-Fi kits (often via Ka-band satellites or Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations) at command posts to access broadband internet ad-hoc, seemingly anywhere emergencies demand.  

Additionally, agencies deploy portable satellite Wi-Fi kits (often via Ka-band satellites or Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations) at command posts to access broadband internet ad-hoc, seemingly anywhere emergencies demand.  

Going forward, we will see satellite links integrated as automatic failovers in communication equipment. If the local network fails, firefighters’ radios or tablets may switch to satellite mode to stay connected. A truly resilient communication strategy means the fire service is always online, even when infrastructure is void, distant or crippled due to high water, high wind or high heat. 

Mesh Networks and Vehicle Hotspots 

On the scene of a structure fire or disaster, incident commanders can’t rely on a single point of failure. That’s where meshed networks come in. New apparatus are being equipped with vehicle-based LTE/5G hotspots and radios that create an on-site bubble of connectivity. Fire trucks, drones, and helmet cams can automatically sync to a fireground Wi-Fi or mesh network, ensuring data, such as video feeds or sensor readings, transfer readily from device to device until they reach the command post.  

For example, a drone overhead might relay its thermal imaging feed via a mesh node on a ladder truck, which then sends it to the incident command tablet. These adaptive networks, often running natively or on edge computing devices in the field, ensure that even if one link fails, the data can still route through another unit. Such redundancy is crucial in environments where obstacles, such as building walls, terrain, or distance, can impede signals. 

Captium Connected Fleet  

The Captium™ platform is a connected vehicle and rescue tool network purpose-built for fire/EMS. It collects critical equipment health data from fire trucks and tools and provides cloud-based dashboards and alerts. In practice, Captium sensors on a rig monitor engine status, pump performance, battery levels, and more. 

All that information is sent to a single interface in Captium, where fleet managers and chiefs can view the status of their assets locally and whenever connectivity and bandwidth allow. This means instead of discovering a failing pump at the worst moment, the system is enabled to send a fault alert during morning checks, allowing maintenance before the truck ever leaves the bay.  

By continuously tracking tool and vehicle health, Captium enables predictive maintenance, allowing issues to be fixed proactively and minimizing on-scene failures, thereby exemplifying the operational mantra of “Maximize uptime, minimize downtime.” This translates to higher confidence for firefighters that their engine, aerial, or rescue tools will perform when lives are on the line. Captium is enhancing situational awareness of the incident and the readiness of responders’ equipment. 

SAM Waterflow Systems 

Another leap in connectivity is SAM – an integrated waterflow control system that connects the pump panel, discharges, and the nozzle. Traditionally, a pump operator must manually throttle up, open and close valves, and radio the status to the crew handling the hose. SAM automates and networks much of this process to the preset GPM and nozzle pressure. It maintains a constant communication loop between the pump and the nozzle, relaying pressure and flow data in real-time.  

The nozzle team can see on a smart display how much water is in the tank or if the pump has switched to hydrant supply. Likewise, the pump operator gets live feedback on hose pressure and flow rates whenever the nozzle operator opens the bale. This closed-loop system keeps everyone informed and maintains open radio channels.  

One fire chief described how adopting a SAM-equipped engine freed up personnel: no longer does a firefighter need to stand at the panel tweaking knobs constantly, so that driver/operator can grab a tool and assist the crew at the nozzle when manpower is tight. In Midway Fire Rescue’s case, the SAM’s remote water flow control allowed them to operate effectively even with staffing shortages, as one person can manage the pump via the smart system while others focus on fire attack.  

The outcome is faster, safer operations – water is delivered more reliably, and firefighters can concentrate on tactics. SAM and similar smart pump systems highlight how connectivity between apparatus and crew improves efficiency on the fireground. 

Wearables and Smart PPE 

Firefighter personal protective equipment is also getting connected. Many departments are now considering wearable telemetry devices, which can transmit vital signs and physiological alarms to the incident command. Real-time health monitoring devices can track firefighters’ heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and body temperature and send automatic alerts if a firefighter shows signs of distress or overexertion.  

This is akin to each firefighter wearing a biomedical sensor, much like an ICU patient monitor, but ruggedized for burning buildings. If a firefighter’s heart rate spikes or they stop moving (a possible Mayday situation), the system alerts the safety officer’s tablet, potentially with the firefighter’s last known location.  

Likewise, smart SCBAs can now transmit remaining air supply and PASS alarm status over radio or Wi-Fi to a command unit. All this connected PPE gives the incident commander a live dashboard of firefighter health and status, enabling quicker emergency intervention and accountability.  

Location trackers are another significant leap: new systems utilize RF beacons and inertial navigation to track crews within GPS-denied environments (such as deep inside a high-rise or tunnel), projecting their positions onto the commander’s map. For example, if Engine 10’s crew is on the 3rd floor, the IC can see their tag moving on the building layout. This level of connectivity—every firefighter is essentially a node on the network—vastly improves personnel safety and coordination. 

As technology advances, the future fireground will become increasingly connected and intelligent. The current capabilities we just discussed (networked comms, connected vehicles, and gear) lay the groundwork. Next, we layer on AI, analytics, and extended reality (XR) to create a responsive, almost predictive incident environment. 

AI-Driven Incident Command 

Soon, incident commanders will have an “AI co-pilot” assisting with decision-making. Imagine an AI system sifting through all incoming data – weather, 911 caller feeds, building sensors, drone video – to highlight key information and even suggest tactics. Early efforts are underway: emergency management centers have begun using AI to process vast amounts of data at the edge and provide actionable insights to incident commanders.  

For example, an AI might analyze live drone footage and thermal images to predict a roof collapse, alerting the IC to evacuate crews moments earlier than human perception might. Or predictive models could forecast fire spread in a wildfire, given wind and terrain, enabling the operations chief to deploy resources to where the fire is heading. AI can also analyze historical incident data and real-time inputs to optimize resource allocation, ensuring the closest and most appropriate units are dispatched and advising when to call mutual aid based on the incident profile.  

Crucially, these systems keep a human in the loop. The AI surfaces recommendations, but officers will confirm or adjust them. Early trials have shown that during large disasters, AI filtering data (like social media for cries for help, or traffic cameras for evacuation status) can support the cognitive load on commanders by highlighting what demands immediate attention. In short and not without controversy for the need for governance, safety, security, and responsible deployment, AI is poised to make sense of the deluge of information in complex incidents, acting as an ever-vigilant advisor so that human commanders can make faster, more informed decisions. When will a machine make wiser decisions more quickly than a human is unknown. It may be coming sooner than the industry is prepared to accept.

Edge computing minimizes latency, crucial for split-second decisions, and keeps missions running even if internet access cuts out. The DHS Science & Technology Directorate recently tested an edge computing system in California that could generate high-resolution fire behavior forecasts on the fly, right at the incident, using data from weather sensors and cameras. This gave commanders immediate insight, without waiting for reports from a distant supercomputer.  

We can expect more of this: fire engines with AI hubs that locally fuse data from helmet cams, gas detectors, and personnel trackers to provide instant hazard warnings directly to firefighters; or wearable devices that store and forward data in bursts when connection permits, so even intermittent connectivity doesn’t lose a firefighter’s vitals. Edge computing will make the entire network more resilient to outages and reduce dependence on bandwidth, a critical feature when communications are most vulnerable, such as during hurricanes or in underground settings.

XR and the Connected Firefighter 

Extended Reality – encompassing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) – will further enhance connectivity by changing how information is delivered to responders. AR helmets and glasses are in development (such as Qwake Tech’s C-THRU) that overlay visual communication data onto the firefighter’s vision . A helmet-mounted AR display could show a firefighter the floor plan outline and a breadcrumb path to the exit, or highlight the heat signature of a downed victim.  

Importantly, these AR systems are connected to the broader data stream: the incident commander might mark a “do not enter” zone on their tablet, which instantly highlights in every firefighter’s AR display as a red outline on a collapse-risk area. Qwake’s platform even streams the firefighter’s view back to command, meaning chiefs can see what interior teams are facing and coordinate with unparalleled situational awareness.  

For instance, after an incident, the data recorded from all these connected devices could be compiled into a 3D digital twin replay of the event. Crews could later step into a VR after-action review, seeing the incident unfold with all the data overlays, to learn and improve. Digital twin simulations are already being used to model wildfires and predict their spread, and similar concepts will benefit urban firefighting. 

For all this to work, we need truly interoperable data, not just interoperable voice comms. The future likely holds unified platforms where disparate systems (911 CAD, building IoT sensors, firefighter wearables, weather services, etc.) all plug into a common data exchange. Open standards and APIs will be key, allowing a fire department’s dispatch software to send an alert that automatically appears on every firefighter’s helmet HUD, or a smart building’s fire alarm panel to transmit smoke detector status directly to responding engines.  

A connected future might look like this: the moment a call comes in for a high-rise fire, the building’s digital twin (if available) is pulled up, showing standpipe locations and ventilation controls; while en route, crew tablets display traffic telemetry via city data feeds to pick the fastest route; on scene, drones and robots stream video into the same interface; all agencies chat on a common channel bridging radio, API agnostic data and LTE.  

The technology is mostly in place – what remains is integrating it. The end goal is an integrated “common operating platform” where any crucial information flows to those who need it, regardless of origin. Achieving this interoperability of data will require continued leadership and collaboration (between public safety, tech companies, and standards bodies), but the payoff is immense: a fire service where every tool talks to every other tool, painting a comprehensive picture of the incident with minimal delay. 

The trajectory is clear: connectivity will continue to redefine how emergencies are handled. Radios and hand signals are being augmented by a rich web of data from drones, satellites, smart trucks, and wearables all tied into a common operating picture. The fire service stands to gain immensely – improved safety, faster knockdowns, more efficient use of resources – if these tools are adopted and integrated correctly. The vision of every firefighter and commander being linked by an “information lifeline” means no one operates in the dark, literally or figuratively. A fully connected fireground is one where responders receive earlier warnings of dangers, real-time updates on evolving conditions, and coordinated visual communication with all personnel on the scene. 

To achieve this, fire departments must prioritize interoperability and resilience in their technology strategies. It’s not enough to buy the latest gadget; it must play nicely with others and function when things go wrong. Open standards, cross-agency collaboration, and backup plans (such as satellite failovers or edge processing) should be integrated into every technology deployment.  

Departments leading the way – many in partnership with innovators like IDEX Fire & Safety and its partners – are already demonstrating the benefits, whether it’s a smart pump that frees up a firefighter to do more, or a connected platform that catches a failing tool before it sidelines a crew.  

As we look to the future, embracing these technologies is not just about shiny new toys, but about fundamentally improving fireground strategy and outcomes. The modern incident commander’s mantra may become: “connect everyone, share everything, and let the data guide our tactics.” By investing in robust, interoperable, and intelligent connectivity, the fire service will be better equipped to meet the evolving challenges of 21st-century emergencies – united, informed, and ready for digitally supported operations.