LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — When it comes to wildfires, time is critical.
A new tool called Tablet Command helps first responders communicate vital information quickly, and the technology is being used by Las Vegas area fire departments at the Caldor Fire.
Brandon Parry, the North Las Vegas battalion chief, says it allows him to know where each team member is as they battle the fire.
“You want to know that your guys are safe and that they are protected," said Parry. "You want to know where they are at all times. Tablet Command allows you to do that quicker and easier."
Parry says battalion task leaders have been using the technology to their advantage and it has prevented mistakes from happening.
“It allows for better tracking, better accountability, and it is easier to use," said Parry. "It’s easier to move it around and get our eyes back on the fire and on the incident."
Before Tablet Command, the agency used pen and paper, filling out a Southern Nevada Fire Operations form to assign tasks out in the field. Parry says the information is more likely to get lost in translation to administration.
With Tablet Command, however, he says the technology provides real-time updates and makes workflow more efficient.
A North Las Vegas Fire Department spokesperson said its crews at the Caldor Fire are also using the technology to assign their tasks and get real-time updates on maps that help them contain and handle the fire in the best way possible.
