BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Firefighters are getting a helping hand when it comes to extinguishing flames.

What You Need To Know

  • Drones, improved fire hoses and EMT supplies are just some of the new technology Hernando County Fire Rescue staff are using out in the field
  • These technical advantages are aiding the station as it deals with a recent firefighter shortage — not replacing human beings but making work more efficient

It’s through the use of some new technology, like drones, improved fire hoses and EMT supplies. It’s making the mission of fire rescue more efficient.

Taking flight from Fire Station 7 is the future of innovation at Hernando County Fire Rescue, as firefighters participate in drone training.

“Drones are a relatively new technology in the fire service,” said Nick Brandt, communications manager with Hernando County Fire Rescue.

It’s just some of the latest tech that is helping these firefighters in their daily routine.

“They’re using the drone’s prop wash,” said Brandt. “Which is the downward wind force of the blades, to disperse chemical fumes away from a victim so they can try to provide a survivable air space for them to get rescued, and also to provide a little situational awareness as to what’s going on.”

Fire hoses have also been equipped with a smart nozzle. With the push of a button, an operator can call for water without relying on someone back at the engine.

“With the first five to ten minutes on a fire is probably the busiest part of a fire and a lot of communication going on, it’s easy to miss the call for water via radio,” said Captain Brian Nigro.

It’s these technical advantages that are aiding the station as it deals with a recent firefighter shortage. Equipment that is — not replacing human beings — making work more efficient.

“This technology, I like to call it or refer to it as a technological advantage,” said Brandt. “It supplements what we can do faster, more efficiently, and at a higher level.”

And encouraging those to become a firefighter, Brandt says, starts by having the latest tech.

“Being able to institute a lot of this technology into what we do as firefighters has really excited them into the workforce that we have,” he said. “It’s been a huge benefit for us.”

It’s all helping out the next generation of firefighters.

If you’re interested in opportunities to become a firefighter, you can learn more information online.