FireWatch

The Holiday season can be tough on fire‑service crews, where long shifts, volunteer commitments and unpredictable calls add stress when families want connection most. A few simple acts, a warm meal together, a handwritten thank‑you note, or a small surprise treat can...

NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are rolling out new drone and air‑traffic‑management tech that could let crews fight wildfires at night, and even through thick smoke, when traditional planes must stand down. Their suitcase‑size portable system gives...

Fire and EMS services in 2025 are facing a growing skills shortage, even as new tech, changing regulations and rising disaster demands reshape how firefighters respond. Departments now wrestle with tighter staffing, pressure to adopt new gear and evolving expectations...

Being a new fire chief isn’t the triumph many expect; it’s a wake‑up call. In the first few months on the job, one chief faced uncomfortable truths, learned the importance of listening over action, and saw why building trust matters more than issuing orders. Find out...

A massive blaze has devastated several high‑rise towers in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong, leaving dozens dead and hundreds unaccounted for, a tragedy described as the city’s deadliest fire in decades. Flames spread rapidly through bamboo scaffolding and renovation...

Digital tools promise efficiency for fire departments, but an emerging concern is that they may be chipping away at the face‑to‑face trust and old‑school leadership skills that build strong crews. As tech rises, some fear the next generation of fire leaders could lose...

Fire departments are beginning to tap into AI. Not to replace firefighters, but to give them a smarter “co‑pilot” in emergencies, helping track fire spread, monitor conditions, and support safer decision–making. These tools promise clearer situational awareness,...

In the far north, fires that seemed dead come back to life. Smouldering beneath snow and soil, these “zombie fires” are now re‑igniting across Arctic and boreal forests once spring hits - and with climate change drying peat and permafrost, they’re becoming a dangerous...

A new article explores the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in firefighting, showing how data‑driven tools, sensors and intelligent systems are helping crews stay safer and work smarter. The piece highlights both the promise of tech like predictive...

Parks Canada has released two detailed reports on the July 2024 wildfire in Jasper National Park, confirming that a lightning strike triggered the blaze, and that “tornado‑force” fire‑driven winds and heavy fuel loads helped it spread rapidly. The findings point out...

Los Alamos County Fire Department is deploying a remote‑controlled wildfire‑mitigation robot from BurnBot that can thin hazardous fuels in rugged terrain, without putting crews at risk. This tech‑forward approach is designed to create defensible space faster and safer...

In the lead‑up to the catastrophic Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, crews from the Los Angeles Fire Department opted not to use a thermal imaging camera despite signs that embers remained trapped underground. Critics say that the choice may have helped transform a...

A major recall has been issued on thousands of high‑priced portable power stations after reports that the lithium‑ion batteries inside can overheat and ignite, posing serious fire and safety risks. See how this hazard was uncovered and what consumers need to watch out...

New tools like real‑time GPS trackers, biometric wearables and digital command boards promise to revolutionize firefighting, but many crews still aren’t using them. A new survey shows that to become routine, tech needs to be simple, fast and backed by leadership,...

A startup has successfully demonstrated an automated wildfire‑suppression system that uses AI to detect spot fires and deploy smart capsules mid‑air for immediate response. This “Wildfire Resilience‑as‑a‑Service” tech could be a game‑changer for communities at risk...

A Cleveland‑based startup is testing a fire‑suppression system that uses infrasound (sound below the level humans can hear) to disrupt flames instead of spraying water or foam. It promises a damage‑free way to defend homes and infrastructure from wildfire risk....

Fire crews in Georgia are now receiving crucial data before they arrive on scene, thanks to a new tech system that lets residents input info like the number of people at home, pets, health issues or layout hazards. This heads‑up could mean the difference between a...

Engineers at Iowa State University are developing a multiplayer computer game that trains emergency responders to make swift decisions during disasters, such as a sudden derecho. The interactive simulation immerses players in roles such as fire chief or EMS lead under...