What is FireWatch?

The FireWatch aerial supervision/remote sensing program was designed to fulfill aerial supervisory needs and enhance incident management situational awareness.

FireWatch Capabilities

* Air Tactical Group Supervisor/ Helicopter Coordination
* Remote Mapping
* Video and Audio data recording. Color and Infrared imagery (Full Motion Video)
* Real time audio/video downlink

Click Here for a Program Overview

What FireWatch Does

Using the FLIR camera/moving map combination to map the fire and then down linking the information to incident personnel in real time provides a clear view of the overall situation.

A portable microwave receiver carried on the aircraft can be delivered to personnel on the incident to view real time color or infrared video of critical areas.

The FireWatch geo-referenced FLIR System turret is integrated with the Avalex mapping system. Data from the turret is capable of producing ESRI shapefile perimeters by tracing the fire edge from a distance, regardless of smoke.

Examples of how FireWatch can assist incidents:

* Firefighters receive video via the portable monitor while actually 'on the line'
* FireWatch can easily locate hot spots, determine their exact location and alert ground crews
* Downlinking real time video to fire planners allows them to assess future needs immediately
* Critical firing (Back Firing/Burnout) operations get immediate perspective of their situation
* Incident commanders get live video of emergency situations or areas of concern
* Fill position of Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) or Helicopter Coordination (HLCO)