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The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council awarded funds to the Western Massachusetts Fire Chief Association for the Mobile Data Terminals project. The Mobile Data Terminals project has created an expansive, technology based emergency response system. The project has installed “Toughbook” laptops and geographic information mapping software into the fire departments of throughout all of Western Massachusetts, and continues to roll out more. The laptops provide fire fighters with the ability to obtain accurate timely information about their community’s infrastructure and their emergency response plans. Another major benefit of this program is that it allows for communities to share information. The information sharing aspect of the program gives firefighters and Incident Commanders easy access to critical response data concerning any mutual aid community they are responding to. A software upgrade and additional MDTs were added in 2013.
Reference: Fire, GIS, Information Sharing, MDT
The WRHSAC purchased, in 2010, four mobile attack foam trailers, one for each county. These special trailers each hold and pump 500 gallons of foam specifically formulated to attack ethanol fuel based fires. They respond via mutual aid to fuel fires in the region. The Council established a foam cache to resupply expended foam within a 24-hour period. This cache was secured through a certified vendor. The cache is resupplied through the insurance reimbursement received by the hosting fire department for the expended foam. Since this reimbursement process can be time consuming, the foam cache allows immediate resupply and keep the trailers in ready response. The cache was established in 2011
Reference: Ethanol, Fire, Foam Trailers, hazmat equipment
