When tens of thousands of firefighters come to Indianapolis each year, it’s not just about them. It’s about how they can better keep you safe. This week firefighters from all over the U.S. will be centered in downtown Indy and fire departments from all over the state will be helping out.
“It’s Hoosier hospitality,” said Bobby Halton, when asked why they keep bringing the convention back to Indiana. Halton is a long-time instructor with the New York city Fire Dept. (FDNY), and is in charge of training and education for FDIC.
He said one class will be held in Champaign, Illinois (for the second year).
“And everywhere in between there, for a radius of I don’t know how many miles. It must be 60 miles in every direction, maybe more, we have departments that are helping us,” he said. “Over 141 fire departments this year are in some way supporting the efforts of FDIC.”
Halton said convention organizers have no plans to change the location of the convention in the foreseeable future, largely because of the level of commitment that the state has shown to the convention and Hoosier dedication to public service.
Some new technology, some of it never before seen, will be previewed at the conference. You will be able to see some of it, if you are able to attend some of the parts that will be open to the public.
One of those new pieces of tech are the first-ever fully electric fire trucks.
“They’re not Teslas. They’re actually made by several other companies,” said Halton. “And even if combustion technology becomes more refined and useable, you’ll see the engineering that went into them and how streamlined they are and how futuristic they are.”
New lines of electric tools will be on display, with batteries that can last as long as 10 hours. They also don’t make a spark, necessary when in some situations.
“What burns in a fire isn’t the table or chair that you’re sitting on, but the gasses that they give off are what ignite. So, all of our equipment needs to be intrinsically safe. In other words it can’t create a spark or light up these gasses.”
Halton is also excited about thermal imaging technology that not only produces clearer infrared images for firefighters to use when entering a building, but can also outline people and objects and identify them. He said that could eventually be useful for people who are not well-sighted, making it easier for them to drive or otherwise function in everyday life.
For a look at what parts of the conference you can attend and some of the interesting exhibits, events and competitions, visit FDIC.com.
