The Czech Fire Rescue Service has implemented LiveU video-over-bonded-IP technology to supplement radio voice communications with real-time video intelligence throughout ongoing emergency operations. The rescue service directly attributes this change to reducing the time it takes to respond to wildfires and enhancing command decisions when conditions on the ground are constantly changing.

The deployment, which is provided by LiveU's Czech partner Smart Informatics, combines LU-REQON1 and LU800 units with thermal field cameras, drone operators and stationary PTZ cameras at various incident locations. The National Operational Center of the Czech Republic receives all signals in real time, manages them centrally, and immediately distributes them to senior officers and commanders on the ground. The LiveU Matrix IP distribution platform allows the rescue service to send live video straight to public television for national disasters and other significant events that call for public communication. This feature has already been tested and put to use in the field.

During a significant wildfire in Bohemian Switzerland National Park, more than ten LiveU units were deployed concurrently as part of a response involving 2,581 firefighters, 356 pieces of specialized equipment, including vehicles and drones, and up to eight helicopters using Bambi buckets for aerial firefighting. This was a large-scale test of the capability. While fixed PTZ thermal cameras found hidden hotspots throughout the night, drone operators equipped with thermal cameras monitored the spread of fire from above. Real-time video intelligence was directly responsible for the fire's containment in 10 days, according to the rescue service.

In 2022, a much larger fire that devastated the same area revealed a crucial operational gap and immediately spurred the Fire Rescue Service to look for a technology remedy. In response to their request for high-quality video transmission from remote areas with inadequate mobile network coverage, Smart Informatics created something that was unprecedented in Czech public safety and established a new standard for situational awareness throughout Europe.

"Before LiveU, commanders in the operational center made decisions based only on voice communication over radio. Now they see exactly what we see, in real time, from every point of the incident. That change in situational awareness has made us faster, more precise, and more effective – and in a wildfire, every minute we save matters. The system is also remarkably simple to use under field conditions – our crews activate it in seconds with no technical setup at the scene. When you are responding to an emergency, you need technology that works without getting in the way", said Col. Jiří Studnička, head of the communications department, general directorate of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic.

With no reliance on a single connection source, the LiveU devices connect various connectivity types at once, including 5G, LTE, WiFi and Starlink satellite as necessary. This ensures uninterrupted video transmission even when individual networks fail or are crowded in remote areas. That resilience serves as the operational basis for a service that operates in highland forests, national parks and disaster areas. Field units send live feeds to the National Operational Center, which are then relayed to on-site commanders and senior officers who can monitor the situation from anywhere using a desktop, tablet or mobile device.

"First responders cannot afford uncertainty. When a commander at an operations center makes a split-second decision, the difference between a voice description and live video from the scene is the difference between reacting and truly knowing. The Czech Fire Rescue Service is a strong example of what broadcast-grade reliability means when applied to mission-critical field operations – and the measurable impact on firefighting duration they have seen proves it. Across the world, public safety agencies are reaching the same conclusion: real-time situational awareness is no longer optional. It is operational infrastructure," Roni Weinberg, vice president public safety, LiveU, said.

Tomáš Veselý, managing director of Smart Informatics, shared that the project carries a weight that goes beyond technology integration. "I have spent my career in broadcasting. When we moved into public safety, I understood very quickly that this is completely different. In broadcasting, if something goes wrong, you lose the picture. In emergency response, you can lose a life. This is the first time I have felt, with real certainty, that the technology I work with can directly affect whether people come home safely."

“Reliable connectivity is no longer a convenience for emergency services, it is a critical operational capability. Following the lessons learned from the 2022 Hřensko wildfire, this project demonstrates how resilient multi-network video transmission can give commanders continuous visibility, even in the most challenging environments. Together with Smart Informatics, we have delivered a solution that enables first responders to share real-time intelligence from anywhere, helping teams make faster decisions, coordinate resources more effectively, and better protect lives and communities," Dariusz Grudzień, CEE sales director, LiveU, said.