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Bloomington Fire Dept goes high tech

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) –The Bloomington Fire Department is using new technology to help fight fires.

The technology is part of a two-year pilot program named “Project Innovation” and fire officials said it could help them get to a fire more quickly.

“What you don’t want is to get to that route and realize that the road is closed. So this helps us to do that,” Bloomington Fire Deputy Fire Chief Jayme Washel said.

The technology is like a GPS, only more in depth. It shows traffic patterns, construction zones and information about the location that is burning.

Firefighters estimate the technology can save them anywhere from 30 to 45 seconds or even more.

“When you consider how fast a fire grows, or in the aspect of somebody has a heart attack, seconds and minutes means the world in those types of emergencies,” Washel added

Indiana University and the company behind the technology named Netage are footing the bill for the first two years.

If the department decides the technology is worth it, they will have to find other funding or have the city pay for it.

“Every city struggles, has budgetary concerns, all across the country we’re going through those things,” Washel said.

If the Bloomington FD decides the technology is worth it, they will have to find other funding or have the city pay for it.

“I think this is something that is not going to be confined to Bloomington, Indiana. This is a project in a couple of years that could affect the entire fire service,” Washel added.