ATHENS-Athens Fire and Rescue is using technology purchased through a Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant to quickly access information while en route to an emergency and while at a scene.
Athens Fire and Rescue and the Mayor’s Office submitted a grant request to Firehouse for nine Apple iPads with accessories to equip in department vehicles for quick access to vital information. Athens Fire purchased the equipment for $8,374.70 after receiving grant approval in January.
On Thursday, April 23, the Firehouse Subs restaurant in Athens joined the Firehouse 
Subs Public Safety Foundation to host a celebration of the grant project. Athens Fire and Rescue provided a demonstration of the equipment purchased.
Athens Fire Chief Tony Kirk said responding crews are using the technology in several ways. For example, if there is an emergency at a business, a crew can retrieve business inspection records to gather more details about entrances, exits, layouts and sprinkler systems. A crew can find information regarding homes with special instructions, such as entry gate codes.
Dispatched calls from Athens-Limestone 911 are being enhanced. The technology allows the generation of an email sent to each iPad that contains a scene’s address as a hyperlink. Crews can tap the link and receive mapping information regarding the most direct route to the location. Athens Fire is working with Athens Public Works and 911 to create specialized GIS mapping for the iPads. The grant funded a desktop unit that is located in Battalion Chief David Andrews’ office. Athens Fire is using the desktop to build the mapping system so the maps can be pushed out to the I-pads.
The technology also provides information such as hydrant locations, public storm shelter locations and a list of registered private storm shelters. At a Hazmat scene, crews can pull up information on mitigating the danger based on the contamination. AFR also is working to create predetermined buffer zones for sites where chemicals are stored in case of an accident that requires evacuations.
Andrews said that will allow the department to already know what houses are located in each of the evacuations zones, saving time.
At accident scenes, crews are using the technology as a resource when extricating crash victims, such as finding the location of air bags or critical information regarding systems on hybrid vehicles.
Crews also use the technology to monitor weather radar conditions so firefighters can make appropriate plans for the safety of themselves and citizens.
In the future, Athens Fire will add other programs like Find My Friends, which will locate all fire engines, such as during a natural disaster. As new material is placed on the I-Pads, in-service classes will be held to train the firefighters on specific functions.
Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks was out of town and unable to attend Thursday but sent his thanks to Firehouse Subs via email.
Mayor Ronnie Marks
“The Foundation purchased a tactical robot for Athens Police that was used recently to safely handle a situation involving a man with a gun,” Marks said. “Now the Foundation is enhancing the technology capabilities of our Fire Department for the safety of our firefighters and citizens. In addition, during recent ice and snow events we had earlier this year, Firehouse was one of the few restaurants able to open. I ate lunch there and was impressed with the professionalism and positive attitude of the staff despite the number of diners flocking there for lunch.”
In 2005, Firehouse Subs created the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation with the mission of providing funding, life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to first-responders and public safety organizations. Through the non-profit 501(c)(3), Firehouse Subs has given more than $13 million to hometown heroes in 43 states and Puerto Rico, including more than $816,000 in Alabama.
Each restaurant recycles leftover, five-gallon pickle buckets and sells them to guests for $2. Donation canisters on register counters explain the non-profit’s mission and collect spare change, while the Round Up Program allows guests to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar. All funds raised benefit the Foundation.
Prior to this grant, Firehouse Subs provided a grant to the Athens Police Department for a tactical robot the department has nicknamed Millward. Officers used the robot recently to safely handle a situation involving a man who fired a weapon, went inside his home, and refused to communicate with officers.
