BY KIRK McKINZIE AND JOHNNY DOO

As air-rescue operations have continually evolved from the early days of military helicopter rescues to today’s established flight medic programs with enhanced payload aircraft, it is time to usher in cutting-edge vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that integrate advanced air mobility (AAM) with artificial intelligence (AI).

The advent of intelligent aerospace systems with the integration of AAM VTOL technologies linking artificial intelligence (AI) marks a significant milestone in the evolution of aerospace systems, offering a fresh approach to public safety and first response. This article explores the interactive potential of AAM and VTOL technologies, augmented by AI, to revolutionize emergency response services.

The challenges and opportunities presented by integrating AI into aerospace emphasize the importance of trustworthy AI, assured autonomy, and human-AI teaming (HAT) in enhancing operational capabilities, efficiency, safety, and reliability. The ethical, environmental, economic, and societal implications of deploying these advanced technologies must be carefully considered. Concurrently, ethical AI principles and frameworks must be advocated to guide their development and applications. Through a detailed examination of autonomous aircraft capabilities, including task planning, obstacle avoidance, and machine-based decision making with and without human intervention, it is clear the industry is on the precipice of transformative impact on emergency medical services, firefighting, search and rescue operations, and disaster response. There will be a need for continued research, collaboration, and policy development to navigate the complex landscape of intelligent aerospace systems.

1 The NASA booth, as imaged during the 2024 Vertical Flight Society Symposium, provided a tangible and science-based representation of the AI-enhanced AAM, VTOL First Response domain. (Photo by authors.)

As we navigate through the complexities and opportunities presented by the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and Web 3.0 (W3), the fields of machine learning (ML) and AI lead the way during this technological rise. These advancements include the digital realm but have profound implications across various sectors, notably aerospace, where they are poised to update and enhance public safety and emergency medical services. The advent of AAM and VTOL technologies marks a shift toward more intelligent, responsive, and efficient emergency response systems.

The evolution of AAM and VTOL, underpinned by AI, represents a significant leap in addressing critical emergency response and public safety challenges. These technologies will transform how we approach situations that demand rapid, flexible, and effective interventions. Integrating intelligent systems with AAM and VTOL can dramatically improve outcomes in life-threatening conditions, from expediting emergency medical services to enhancing the efficacy of search and rescue operations.

As we explore these advancements, it is crucial to consider their opportunities and challenges, particularly regarding safety, reliability, and moral considerations, including training AI models, sourcing materials, and humancentric deployment of these new hard and soft systems. Designing human-free or human-assisted intelligent systems can enhance operational capabilities, including autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and decision making during intervention. The multifactor issues accompanying these technologies’ integration into public safety operations will be an essential and iterative process, navigating a careful, informed approach to ensure the benefits of these technological advancements are realized fully and

Two people are in the hospital after a tractor-trailer crashed into a Monroe County (GA) Emergency Services fire apparatus Thursday morning while crews were responding to another tractor-trailer fire.

The Monroe County Emergency Services – GA posted the following on its Facebook page:

At 6:17 this morning units were dispatched to a working tractor-trailer fire on I-75 northbound just before Johnstonville Road.

As units were responding, one of Monroe County’s fire apparatus was rear-ended by a tractor trailer, which resulted in significant damage to both vehicles.

Both vehicles were single occupant and both were transported to the hospital for treatment. The injured are still being treated for their injuries at Atrium.

“Our crews as well as the additional responding units worked effortlessly to extinguish the fire as well as care for the injured people on scene without delay,” the post said.

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Angela Cina
La Crosse Tribune, Wis.
(TNS)

After a three-year process, the Viroqua Fire Department is getting closer to moving into a new station that will offer more functionality and safety for its members.

The 26,000-square-foot fire station was constructed on city-owned property located on Nelson Parkway, just north of the Wild West Days grounds. The process, which began in 2022, started with Keller, Inc. and the building concept and working through the grant process with Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s office. Baldwin’s office helped secure a $5.2 million USDA Community Facilities Grant.

Fire Chief Chad Buros said crews began moving dirt for the construction project at the end of July 2024. A groundbreaking ceremony was held June 26, 2024.

A work in progress

The new Viroqua Fire Station is located on Nelson Parkway. Construction could possibly be wrapped up by the end of August, with a soft move-in possibly the first week of September.

Buros said there were no major delays during the construction. “There are always little things; Keller did a good job changing things up, so we didn’t lose time. A few times, rain showers slowed things down when we first moved dirt last fall. They shifted gears to do something else … the project never stopped.”

In an interview on Aug. 8, Buros said crews are now doing the finishing touches on such things as working on some of the electrical and plumbing, touching up paint and working on the parking lot. He said the parking lot work “is a big step” for the project.

In a week-and-a-half the department will move the breathing air compressor for firefighters’ air packs and the gear washer from the current station on East Broadway Street and reinstall them at the new station, Buros said.

Once such things as HVAC and the generator are set up and ready to go, Buros said there will be training over the next few weeks.

The fire chief said construction could possibly be wrapped up by the end of August, with a soft move-in possibly the first week of September. “We’d move the emergency operations first, including fire trucks and bunker gear.” The “office-type stuff,” he said, would be moved throughout September.

Buros said the expectation is for the new station to be 100% functional mid to late September; however, that depends on weather and call volumes. “That’s our timeline of hopes.”

Buros said the fire department doesn’t have to rush to move out of the current station. “That’s a good thing. We don’t want to rush.”

Parking lot work

Crews work on the parking lot at the new Viroqua Fire Station, Friday, Aug. 8.

There’s a preliminary plan to have an open house the first of October. “We want the public to see what has happened,” Buros said. “Our house is their house.” He noted the event would have everybody who was involved with the project, including the city council, representatives from the three townships – Franklin, Jefferson and Viroqua – who partnered with the city, and representatives from Baldwin’s office.

The current Viroqua Fire Station, located at 702 E. Broadway St., is about 12,000 square feet and was originally a beer distributor warehouse. The fire department moved there in the early to mid-1990s and up until about four years ago they shared the building with the Vi

Cathy Spaulding
Muskogee Phoenix, Okla.
(TNS)

Muskogee’s vacant post office building has been torn down so preparation can begin on a new public safety building.

The post office, 525 W. Okmulgee Ave., is among several buildings being razed for the Bass Reeves Memorial Public Safety Building. The public safety facility will house Muskogee Police Department, Muskogee County Emergency Medical Service, Muskogee County Emergency Management, part of Muskogee Fire Department, and part of Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office.

The facility is funded by a temporary 0.849% sales tax Muskogee County voters approved in January.

Muskogee County EMS Director Laurel Havens said work on the new facility is expected to start in January 2026.

“Plans for where the building is going to sit are done,” Havens said. “Interior plans are about 85% done. Those will be done and submitted and finalized at the end of this month, then it will go to engineering to start all the drawings.”

When space for the post office is cleared, buildings at Fifth Street and Okmulgee will be demolished to allow expansion of Muskogee Civic Center parking lot, Havens said. Buildings east of Muskogee Fire Department, 505 Columbus Ave., will be torn down, he said. An attorney’s office at Sixth Street and Okmulgee will remain standing.

The post office was vacated in 2019 when the U.S. Postal Service moved to Arrowhead Mall. The empty building became a marijuana growing facility, prompting numerous complaints about the area’s smell, Muskogee Police Chief Johnny Teehee has said.

The public safety sales tax also funds free ambulance runs for Muskogee County residents, a replacement for the York Street fire station and new public safety buildings in Warner, Haskell and Fort Gibson.

Construction of the Warner, Haskell and Fort Gibson facilities is expected to start in January, Havens said.

© 2025 the Muskogee Phoenix (Muskogee, Okla.). Visit muskogeephoenix.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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By Megan Ciampo

Spartan Emergency Response officially broke ground Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, on a transformative $20 million expansion project at its Brandon, South Dakota, facility. The event marked the beginning of a three-phase project that will significantly increase and enhance the company’s production capabilities, furthering its commitment to innovation in emergency response solutions.

The expansion project is designed to support Spartan’s continued growth, to meet the increasing demand for apparatus, and to add additional jobs to the region, all while staying focus on Spartan’s core mission—putting first responders first.

The project will include three phases, each focusing on expansion, innovation, and enhancements. The new facility will allow Spartan ER to scale production of vehicles while maintaining high standards of quality and safety.

The groundbreaking ceremony drew a crowd of approximately 100 people, including state and local government officials, South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden, fire apparatus dealers, Spartan and REV Group Inc. employees, and community leaders.

The ceremony featured remarks from Mike Virnig, President of REV Group Inc., and Chag Knigge, General Manager of Spartan Emergency Response, as well as Brandon, SD, Mayor Harry Buck, and Gov. Rhoden. Following the speeches, the government officials and Spartan employees gathered for the ceremonial turning of the soil, hard hats and shovels included.

Attendees were also treated to a showcase of Spartan’s latest fire apparatus, a walkaround tour of the existing manufacturing facility, and more.

The impact of this expansion will stretch far beyond the attendees of the event, though. REV Group Inc. says this new facility space will increase production by 40%, improve material flow, improve delivery time to customers, and greatly reduce lead times for fully custom products.

When asked about the expansion’s impact on production time, Vernig said, “If I had to guess, 25% increased throughput of the S-180s. The rest of the increase we’re going to see, 75% of that, will be for the custom units we build.”

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