As technology evolves, firefighting could become safer and more effective. The National Fire Protection Association reported that in 2013 there were 1,240,00 fires in the U.S., which caused about $11.5 billion in property damage. The implementation of drones and the increased movement towards an Internet of Things are just several ideas fire departments across the country have considered to increase their firefighting capabilities.
By combining current practices with the connectivity of the IoT, firefighters believe they could create smarter firefighting. Real-time information gathered by sensors deployed at the scene of a fire could allow firefighters to go into buildings prepared with the knowledge of how many people are inside and their locations. Drones are currently used to scout areas in a wildfire, but technological advancement have made it possible for the un-manned aircraft to be used indoors. The drones could be fixed with sensors and cameras to assess the danger of certain areas in a burning building. They could also collect chemical and smoke readings as well as report on the internal temperature.
The more situational awareness firefighters have before entering a fire, the safer they are. The increased knowledge also helps them fight the fires quicker and save lives with less risk to themselves.