Fires rage in Fort McMurray, Alberta, on May 1. (credit: jasonwoodhead23)
Right now, wildfires are raging in Canada, forcing the evacuation of Fort McMurray, the nation's largest northern city. More than 80,000 people have fled Fort McMurray as the rest of the world watched horrific videos of long lines of cars struggling through thick smoke while threatened by encroaching walls of fire. What we don't see in the video feeds is how emergency responders are using a range of technologies to contain the situation. But the core theme in emergency response isn’t having the latest tools or the coolest toy. It's about using what works for the greatest number of people, often on a shoestring budget.
NASA
Burn scars, smoke, and active fires in Fort McMurray, Alberta on May 5, 2016.
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Assessing the scene
When disaster strikes—fire, flood, storms, or quakes—first responders are dispatched to go places most people are fleeing. The locations of key infrastructure like fire hydrants are all mapped in advance, but instead of relying on bulky hardcopy binders from the Fire Marshall’s office, modern responders often check custom maps on their smartphones to see where to hook into local infrastructure or digital databases to identify hazards.
Even while firefighters charge into a burning building, someone on their team is hanging back to call in to disaster centers with an update on front-line conditions. A major part of effective disaster response is getting a verified assessment of the scene from a skilled professional, so the people responsible for making decisions can figure out what to do next. Today, a simple smartphone loaded with basic consumer apps like Periscope or Skype can show the office exactly what responders are facing.
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