Dave Poulin
A picture is worth a thousand words, especially in fire investigations and inspections. Photographs have long served a critical role for fire investigators and inspectors by allowing them to document scenes to preserve important information.
In recent years, the evolution of technology has brought digital video into the mix as well, which expands the ability to collect valuable data in the field. Not only does video capture information that photos may not, it also has numerous other benefits, including being especially effective in a courtroom. However, many popular consumer-grade video cameras are not suitable for use in fire service-video quality may be poor, especially in low-light conditions or bad weather, and the information may not be admissible in court because of chain of command requirements. While professional grade video equipment is another option, cameras may be too heavy and bulky for efficient field service, and the technology may be out of reach because of limited budgets.
Wearable Solutions
To overcome these challenges, today’s modern fire service professionals are turning to industrial-grade wearable video solutions. Designed for first responders, these advanced tools can capture and store tamperproof video and audio to deliver an accurate and unbiased record. As wearable technology, the devices serve as total situational awareness and seamless digital information capture tools and important assets for fire scene investigators and inspectors.
Engineered to collect information in a range of environments, wearable video solutions can capture information that might otherwise be missed. Optimized to record both day and night images, wearable video solutions built for industrial use can operate continuously for as much as five hours and produce high-resolution video. Complete with wide angle fish-eye views and built-in microphones, the latest wearable camera devices even feature gyroscopic stabilization and image distortion correction software and can allow for video playback while maintaining the evidence integrity of the original file. Wearable cameras built for industrial use also often offer a ruggedized form factor that is both dust- and water-resistant, which ensures a level of durability superior to consumer-grade models.
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| (1) Designed for first responders, these advanced tools can capture and store tamper-proof video and audio to deliver an accurate and unbiased record. As wearable technology, the devices serve as total situational awareness and seamless digital information capture tools and important assets for fire scene investigators and inspectors. (Photo courtesy of Panasonic System Communications Company of North America.) |
Evidence
When it comes to evidence recovery in the field, wearable video devices can be critical for investigators in the aftermath of a fire. According to the latest estimates on major fire causes, in 20111 United States fire rescue crews responded to an estimated 28,900 intentionally set home structure fires. In potential crime scene cases where intentional fires may have been set, wearable camera devices are especially useful because investigators can use footage from fire rescue operations to preserve hard-to-document early scene images that may prove critical to solving an investigation. These include bystanders, nearby vehicles, and other potential evidence that can be easily lost, moved, or forgotten in the confusion and panic at the scene of a fire. Once suspects have been identified and located, investigators can also use the footage to evaluate testimony provided during witness interviews.
In prosecutions, fire investigation officials can offer a much clearer perspective of a fire scene than with photos alone and significantly improve the power of an arson case. Because the data acquired by law enforcement officials with these specialized tools cannot be manipulated, the use of video evidence at trials has become widely accepted for the judicial process. As a result, wearable video solutions provide fire investigators with the means to increase the likelihood of a successful prosecution.
Inspection
Industrial-grade wearable video solutions can also prove important for inspectors. By using these tools in the field, fire inspectors can more easily assess and mitigate potential fire and life safety hazards, and a video may even pick up something the human eye might not. Although photographs can still be used to document specific areas of concern, wearable video devices provide officials with fully robust information to comprehensively evaluate a structure. By using the devices to collect and store video data digitally, fire inspectors can maintain records of building code assessments that can be automatically uploaded to a mobile computer or tablet mounted in their service vehicle. These files can then be tagged to include citation numbers, descriptions, search strings, and other annotations to reduce processing times.
As many fire commanders know, the time and costs associated with managing and closing investigations can be significant. According to recent estimates, a fire department responds to a fire every 23 seconds, while an average of nine lives are claimed by a fire each day.2 By providing a greater ability to collect and manage information, wearable video solutions help fire investigators and inspectors work more efficiently. Commanders can also use recorded video footage to assess fire investigators’ and inspectors’ performance in the field, or it can be leveraged to help train new team members.
Information Exchange
One of the biggest problems public safety agencies face in information management is when materials must be exchanged between fire safety officials, emergency medical staff, and law enforcement officers. Although these agencies are charged with constantly relaying critical information to each other in the field, all too often the line of communication between officials and personnel will break down when the transfer of evidence is involved.
According to a report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), only about two to four percent of intentional fires lead to convictions in court.3 By using industrial-grade wearable video solutions, fire, medical, and law enforcement officials can help ensure that evidence acquired at the scene of a fire is secure and will be admissible in court. Engineered to meet the various needs of first responders, these devices make it possible for officials to share reliable, secure video footage between agencies without losing the evidentiary integrity of the data involved. The most sophisticated devices will even scramble image data to ensure that no information can be manipulated or destroyed prior to being reviewed by an expert.
With the help of wearable video solutions, fire investigators and inspectors have the power to significantly enhance information management processes, streamline communications between public safety agencies, and improve overall efficiency. Far more than photos alone, and better suited for the field than ordinary video cameras, wearable video technology offers the durability, streamlined management capabilities, and other benefits that make it a valuable tool for fire service professionals.
References
1. National Fire Protection Association. “Intentional Home Structure Fires-2011.” Published 2013.
2. National Fire Protection Association. “An Overview of the U.S. Fire Problem.” Published 2012.
3. Carolina Fire Journal. “Encouraging cooperation in arson prosecutions.” Published 2010.
DAVE POULIN is director of vertical markets for physical security and mobile video for Panasonic System Communications Company of North America.
