My Wish List for the Next Generation of Firefighters

Communications integrated into the helmet and face
piece.  The tinny speakers in masks never
worked right and it’s ridiculous to try to talk through face pieces.  Extension microphones are actually getting
bigger, not smaller, unlike every other piece of technology in the world.




An infrared heads up display in the face piece.  There are no reasons that every firefighter
shouldn’t have a camera, and no reason you should have to carry the thing. 

Apparatus designs in which hose and equipment can be reached
from the ground.  This isn’t so much reengineering
as it is going retro.  When I started, you
could reach the pre-connects in the rear from the ground, and standing on the
tailboard, you could see the driver. 
There is no reason we need ladders on apparatus to reach our own
equipment.  You shouldn’t have to
practically set up scaffolding to reload the hose bed. 

C’mon folks; we had guys walking around on the moon in 1969;
there is no reason we can’t have these simple items on a cost effective, and
importantly, firefighter proof configuration.