By Brandi Makuski

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Fire Department has begun testing new on-scene accountability technology from Ascent Integrated Tech, marking a significant step forward in firefighter safety and operational efficiency.

The system, first used during the Republican National Convention (RNC) held in Milwaukee in July 2024, provides real-time location tracking for firefighters, enhancing command control and decision-making during emergencies.

Deputy Chief Darin Peterburs said the department is currently using about 50 of the devices in training exercises. “We’re testing it out this fall, and if it proves effective, it could enhance our current system,” Peterburs said, adding that the system allows incident commanders to track individual firefighters through a sensor, carried in their pockets, which relays their precise location inside a structure. “Instead of just knowing they’re on the second floor, rear of the building, we can pinpoint their location to a much smaller area.”

Peterburs said that the technology will be especially useful during mayday calls or communication breakdowns. “We can quickly validate where a firefighter is, even in catastrophic situations where traditional tracking might fail,” he said.

The relationship between Milwaukee Fire and Ascent Integrated Tech began three years ago when Chief Aaron Lipski, a fourth-generation firefighter and Fire Chief since 2021, first spoke with the company.

According to Ascent’s CEO Paul Couston, Lipski’s initial response was clear: “We’re not going to be your science project. Milwaukee doesn’t pilot technology—we deploy it.”

The department is now Ascent’s first large metro client.

Couston, who co-founded the company with Chief Technology Officer Alex Wexler four years ago, emphasized that Milwaukee’s adoption of their technology is a major milestone for the company.

“Chief Lipski was one of the first fire chiefs I spoke to,” Couston said. “Three years later, Milwaukee bought 50 of our devices, and now they’re being used in real training scenarios with real firefighters.”

Ascent’s platform, which has been tested by departments across the country, and the U.S. Air Force, provides incident commanders with real-time tracking and biometric alerting.

“In the event that a firefighter has a cardiac event or stops moving, the system will notify command immediately,” Couston said. The technology leverages phones, wearables (like an Apple watch), and other devices already present on the fireground, reducing the need for costly custom hardware.

“We’re not trying to change the firefight, but make the tools firefighters already use more effective,” he added.

Milwaukee’s Deputy Chief Peterburs highlighted the system’s potential to integrate with traditional methods of accountability. “We’re very comfortable with pen and paper or dry-erase boards to track our companies,” he said. “But this tech gives us a more precise way to locate a firefighter in a building, which can be a game-changer in large structures or during critical incidents.”

In addition to firefighter location tracking, Ascent’s system also monitors biometrics to detect early signs of distress.

“If a firefighter is experiencing a cardiac event, the system will alert the command staff, allowing for a quicker response,” Couston explained.

Milwaukee Fire, with 30 fire stations and an annual call volume of approximately 120,000, is one of several departments testing the Ascent platform. The company has also worked with large departments, including Indianapolis and Washington, D.C., and smaller departments, like Mattoon, Illinois, tailoring their platform to fit both large and small agencies.

“What we’re proud of is

By Ni Tao

In recent years, as the application of robotics has evolved in fire prevention and rescue, robot dogs are increasingly stepping into the spotlight. Once the domain of university researchers and tech enthusiasts, these agile fourlegged machines—officially known as quadrupedal robots—are now proving their worth in fire rescue and emergency scenarios.

Designed for robust maneuverability, robot dogs can traverse uneven and unstructured terrain with ease, allowing them to navigate earthquake-stricken areas, high-altitude regions, and fire-damaged zones effectively.

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Leading the way is Boston Dynamics’s Spot, an industrial-grade, large-sized quadruped, which has been adopted by various fire and rescue departments for tasks such as fire reconnaissance and emergency operations. In 2022, the Fire Department of New York purchased two Spot robots to use in search and rescue operations in hazardous situations.

Thanks to their structure, robotic dogs often boast superior mobility, capable of jumping over gaps, jogging across rugged terrain, and climbing over piles of rubble. Equipped with numerous sensors and cameras, they relay real-time video footage from fire scenes, aiding decision making in fire extinguishing efforts. Reconnaissance at fire scenes, particularly risk analysis, is often the first step in firefighting and rescue operations.

Fire scenes are frequently filled with toxic gases. Robot dogs equipped with gas sensors can measure the concentration of toxic gases in the air in real time, transmitting data to command centers for early fire assessment and containment of toxic gas leaks. Moreover, firefighters can operate these robots from a safe distance, collecting and analyzing critical data and information.

In addition to detecting toxic gas concentrations, the thermal imaging sensors attached to the backs of robot dogs are designed to collect temperature data from the fire scene, aiding in planning the best evacuation routes.

DEEP Robotics, a robot company headquartered in Eastern China’s tech hub Hangzhou, produces industry-grade robot dogs. Company representatives say the firm has seen a growing role over the past few years for these machines in modern firefighting, emergency response, and rescue scenarios.

“Beyond battling fires alongside firefighters, these quadruped robots can carry equipment weighing dozens of kilograms. They

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08), a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, announced Tuesday, Oct. 15 that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $2 million in federal funding to support 20 northeastern Pennsylvania firefighters and first responders through its Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) grant programs.

These grants will allow firefighters throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Wayne counties to be appropriately staffed and equipped with critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

“Our fire departments are a first line of defense, keeping our communities safe and secure. These grants will help ensure these first responders have the personnel,  vehicles, training and everyday tools to ensure the safety of our neighborhoods and loved ones,” said Congressman Cartwright. “I am proud to stand with firefighters and  first responders in Congress. On the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue doing everything I can to support our dedicated heroes.”

Luzerne County – $948,911 total

The $344,500 in SAFER grants awarded to Luzerne County includes:

Kunkle Fire Company – $344,500 to purchase protective personal equipment and to bolster recruitment and retention programs

The $604,411 in AFG grants awarded to Luzerne County includes:

City of Wilkes-Barre – $37,353 to purchase protective personal equipment gear cleaning equipment

Freeland Fire Department – $117,654 to purchase essential firefighting hoses, nozzles and appliances

Germania Hose Company – $154,286 to purchase 18 self-containing breathing apparatus systems

Hanover Township Fire Department – $95,238 to purchase a source capture exhaust system to improve indoor air quality and reduce occupational hazard risks

Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Company – $33,829 to purchase protective personal equipment gear cleaning equipment

Mountain Top Hose Company No. 1 – $66,051 to purchase 18 sets of structural protective personal equipment

Pittston Township Volunteer Fire Department – $28,571 to purchase protective personal equipment gear cleaning equipment

Wright Township Volunteer Fire Association – $71,429 to purchase a source capture exhaust system to improve indoor air quality and reduce occupational hazard risks

Lackawanna County – $414,597 total

The $414,597 in AFG grants awarded to Lackawanna County includes:

Archbald Community Ambulance – $53,333 to purchase a source capture exhaust system to improve indoor air quality and reduce occupational hazard risks

Artisan Fire Company, Jermyn – $74,667 to purchase 13 sets of structural protective personal equipment (PPE) and PPE cleaning equipment

City of Scranton – $68,182 to fund physical health exams and cancer screenings for 75 members of the department

Scott Township Hose Company – $180,543 to purchase 18 self-containing breathing apparatus and six portable radios to improve on-scene communications

Taylor Fire and Rescue – $24,762 to purchase protective personal equipment gear cleaning equipment

Wilson Fire Company No. 1, Peckville – $13,110 to purchase protective personal equipment gear cleaning equipment

Monroe County – $158,487 total

The $158,487 in