Davenport, Florida – Since the end of 2024, the city of Davenport and the Davenport fire service have joined forces to use a new device that accelerates water elimination, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
Firefighters save lives every day, houses engulfed in flames at hectares of land burning on the ground. Budget concerns, however, can make an additional challenge for certain local fire services.
“We direct a limited staff that we would like to have more people, but because of the budgets, you know, and the number of people has been able to hire, we cannot do this,” said Thomas Murphy, Jr., administrative captain, Davenport Fire Department.
The city of Davenport is now striving to solve this problem. Since the end of 2024, the city has been using a new device that helps remove water, eliminating a person’s need to do so.
“This gives us a security factor with limited staff,” said Captain Murphy.
A national report from the Government Accountability Office revealed that the number of firefighters has decreased from 2019 to 2023, with wages and working hours as the main causes of personnel gaps.
Captain Murphy continues: “I would not say that this eliminates a position, but with the capacity, in particular, what we call a pipe line, which means that making water to the hose line nozzle without someone standing on the pump panel, that’s what the SAM system does.”
The system allows the crew to operate the pump from a distance from inside the fire scene and technology could help attract young generations to industry, according to experts.
“Gen Alpha, even Gen Z, they choose technologically advanced jobs,” said Jason Cerrano, director of research and development, Idex Fire and Safety. “They will avoid older and more manual jobs. We have to start taking up this challenge. “
The city of Davenport has paid about 25,000 dollars for technology, and they say it will be useful before the fire season. The city hopes that other agencies will do the same, in particular those facing staff shortages.
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