The suitcase’s official title is Command Base LCD T3. It is a user-friendly portable advanced electronic accountability system.
The system consists of three essential items: command base, Tpass3 and SuperCell SC250.
The command base receives displays and transmits information to and from each firefighter and from the unit fire incident commander. The small screen displays the name and unit number of each firefighter on scene. If an alarm is activated by a firefighter, his name is automatically moved to the top of the queue on the screen.
The Tpass3s are attached to each firefighter’s jacket and are capable of sending and receiving information.
The SuperCell SC250, the size of a small pager, is held by the fire incident commander.
“At any time the commander can look at the display and see which firefighters are in the building and the status of that firefighter,” said Thomas Pechal, Temple Fire and Rescue Public Information officer.
The three main units are capable of communicating with each other. “Other cities have alert systems for their firefighters, but ours is capable of sending and receiving messages.”
At the recent Indeco fire, Temple, Belton and Harker Heights all had this system activated, Pechal said, adding that the systems work between departments.
Other departments in Bell County also use the system, Pechal said.
At any time a commander can check the status of each firefighter. “If a firefighter is motionless for 18 to 23 seconds the Tpass3 will give a chirp, reminding you to move. If you don’t move it will send a message to the SuperCell and command base,” Pechal said. “The fire incident commander will then be alerted that a firefighter is in trouble.” Information is continually transmitted and updated on the command base screen.
Firefighters can also activate their Tpass3 to alert officials they are in trouble, Pechal said. “If a firefighter is pinned or having trouble breathing, he just has to pull the plastic and an alarm will alert the commander.”
If the fire incident commander determines that a building may collapse, he can send a message to each member to evacuate, he said. “A piercing sound rings and the firefighters know to evacuate,” Pechal said.
The unit was purchased with funds from a grant in 2003 and funds from the city. It affords extra safety to each firefighter.
“That is always the most important thing to our department,” Pechal said.
