CO2+ Enertia GFx
Emergency Technical Decon
Emergency Technical Decon’s CO2+ Enertia GFx liquid CO2 machine is a closed-loop decontamination system that’s engineered particularly for firefighter turnout gear. The state-of-the-art system uses a proprietary, multistage process that combines environmentally responsible CoolCare chemistry with recycled, pressurized liquid CO2 to allow the system to penetrate deeply into all layers of PPE. The CO2+ Enertia GFx process removes toxic contaminants, including PFAS, SVOCs, PAHs, biologicals and heavy metals, without degrading the PPE’s protective qualities. Underwriters Laboratories testing confirmed that turnout gear that’s cleaned with the CO2+ Enertia GFx system maintained “like new” levels, even after multiple rounds of cleaning. The system filters and recaptures the liquid CO2 for reuse and isolates contaminants for safe disposal, which results in no hazardous wastewater and full NFPA-compliant cleaning.
Firehouse Evaluation: The CO2+ Enertia GFx is more than a cleaner; it’s a comprehensive PPE-care solution that’s designed for the future of fire service health and safety and for departments that are committed to reducing exposure risks while extending the life of their gear without damaging the integrity of moisture barriers and thermal liners.
Darkhorse Risk
Darkhorse Emergency
Darkhorse Emergency’s Darkhorse Risk is a modern community risk assessment (CRA) platform that helps fire departments to confidently understand and reduce risk in their community. Instead of relying on expensive static reports or outdated spreadsheets, Darkhorse Risk provides a “living CRA” tool that’s powered by more than 50 trusted datasets, including the U.S. census, Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which delivers parcel-level insight from within the community. Designed for prevention, not just response, the platform identifies the highest-risk areas, uncovers root causes and guides data-informed interventions. Fast implementation, intuitive visuals and stakeholder-ready reports turn community risk reduction into a measurable, defensible strategy that departments can act on. Darkhorse Risk gives departments clarity and momentum to drive impact and reduce preventable emergencies.
Firehouse Evaluation: This innovative platform provides a continually evolving CRA tool that can incorporate more than 50 open datasets from trusted sources. It’s a fast and affordable option, particularly for departments that lack the resources to have a full-time data analyst on staff. Beyond its powerful visualizations, the platform is intuitive and built for public safety officials to ensure that they understand the data that are collected for positive actions.
EXO 8
Blackline Safety
EXO 8 from Blackline Safety sets a new standard as the only area monitor that detects eight different gases and gamma radiation in a single, rugged, portable device. From hydrogen fluoride (which often is released in battery fires) to ammonia, carbon monoxide and explosive gases, the EXO 8 provides continual situational awareness. It constantly scans for danger across wide zones, unlike personal detectors, and can be used for industrial or transportation incidents and radiological threats at large gatherings. All data stream live to Blackline’s secure platform and are accessible from any connected device. Reports and data analytics are provided automatically. The design allows crews to quickly swap the correct gas sensors for each mission and to place the device on the ground or to mount it on a tripod.
Firehouse Evaluation: The EXO 8 is more than just a gas detector; it’s a robust safety platform. Its unique combination of multigas detection, cloud integration and extreme battery longevity makes it a game changer for firefighters who operate in high-stakes environments. For those who prioritize safety, scalability and situational awareness, the EXO 8 is worth the investment.
Fire Operations Dashboard
Echo Data Analytics
Echo Data Analytics developed a powerful platform, from incident reporting and staffing to standards accreditation to quality assessment/quality improvement (QA/QI), that consolidates an agency’s disparate data into a unified, user-friendly platform. The Fire Operations Dashboard provides an interactive dashboard that allows users to see high-level aggregated statistics or single incidents and apparatus. Dozens of filters examine data across several layers. This, combined with interactive charts, creates both a visualization and an ad hoc reporting tool. All data can be exported into CSV files or charts for sharing. A dedicated QA tab flags common data entry errors with hyperlinks to each incident. Popular metrics include incident volumes, response times, duration metrics and incident projections. Customers report more equitable 9-1-1 responses across their service area and improved data accuracy.
Firehouse Evaluation: The Fire Operations Dashboard is NERIS-compliant and provides fire department users with functional dashboards to help to understand and utilize the data that it captures. It’s capable of being integrated into other products, too, such as those from First Arriving. It makes operational data more useful by breaking it down with filters and providing visualizations.
hPower
Harrison Hydra-Gen
Harrison Hydra-Gen’s hPower green battery-storage system hybradizes fire apparatus, ambulances and other response vehicles. It powers lights, HVAC climate control and equipment, to ensure that a department’s fleet always is ready to go. hPower has been cutting idle times in some departments by more than 50 percent, with projected annual savings of $17,000–$30,000 in fuel per vehicle. Departments report that vehicles last longer, with less engine wear and fewer oil changes and more uptime, while budgets are stretched further. Real-time data and notifications to a phone/computer track fuel savings and system health, to catch issues before critical failure occurs. Harrison programs vehicles to start and stop using customizable parameters, such as temperature sensing and battery levels, which makes the system fully automatic and user-friendly.
Firehouse Evaluation: hPower provides an efficient and dependable solution for powering emergency vehicles without engine idling. It runs all essential systems while the engine is off, to help departments cut fuel costs and reduce wear on their fleet. With smart automation and real-time monitoring, the system is both user-friendly and performance driven. It’s a practical upgrade for any department that’s looking to save money and increase vehicle in-service time.
WFS net
INCA (INternational CArbide Technology)
INCA’s WFS net is an innovative, intumescent material that provides multifunctional and flexible products to halt and suppress fires. The WFS net is a prerequisite for INCA’s recently launched WFS Selfguarding. When exposed to heat, the WFS net expands and creates a dense char layer that withstands temperatures in excess of 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit (1,200 degrees Celsius). It can be used to protect buildings, cables, insulation, wooden structures, steel beams, battery compartments and other structures from wildfire. WFS Selfguarding is a wildfire defense system that stops fires before they reach critical areas, combining the fire-blocking WFS net with AI-driven sensors for a wildfire management system. The system detects risks, coordinates responses and monitors threats in real time. It isn’t just fire suppression but smarter wildfire prevention for a more resilient future.
Firehouse Evaluation: WFS net is an innovative fire protection solution that’s designed to safeguard structures and critical assets from wildland fire threats. The easy-to-use, heat-activated mesh expands and can be wrapped around structures or used to create temporary enclosures that are in the path of a fire. It’s self-extinguishing and remains effective even under prolonged exposure. Overall, it’s a highly adaptable and reliable option for enhancing wildfire resilience.
SpeedSwivel FDC Adapter
Red Head Brass
The SpeedSwivel FDC Adapter from Red Head Brass is carried on fire apparatus and connects to fire sprinkler or fire department connection (FDC)/standpipe systems when the female swivels have been vandalized. The SpeedSwivel is the only adapter that helps firefighters to make the crucial connection, following section 4.2.6 of NFPA 13E: Recommended Practice for Fire Department Operations in Properties Protected by Sprinkler and Standpipe Systems. It features hard-coat anodized aluminum for high strength and was tested at 1,000 psi static pressure without leaks or failure. An optional snoot is available for firefighters to train on, complete with a missing ball-race for connections. The adapter is available with any fire hose thread.
Firehouse Evaluation: This is a true game changer on the commercial fireground, particularly when members are faced with a damaged or inoperable FDC. Designed for speed and functionality, the innovative tool features a 2½-inch male adapter that can be threaded quickly onto an FDC where the attached short section of rigid pipe ends with female connection to effectively restore the FDC to fully operable. This setup turns a compromised standpipe or sprinkler connection into a usable and reliable water source in seconds.
The RISER
EMS Innovations
The RISER provides safe, controlled patient lifting from ground level to reduce injuries to firefighters and EMS crews. Designed by a firefighter, the RISER provides a 3:1 mechanical advantage when lifting a patient from supine to an upright seated position. When operated by two firefighters, a 300-lb. patient can be lifted using only 50 lbs. of force per person. The patient is placed on it the same way as a backboard or slide-on. After belting the patient in place, the firefighter lifts the RISER from the head, and the device converts into a chair. It’s equipped with rear swivel caster wheels and can be rotated 360 degrees. Crafted with medical-grade stainless steel and high-density polyethylene, it weighs 38 lbs. and measures 72 x 22 inches.
Firehouse Evaluation: The RISER is a thoughtfully designed, highly functional tool that supports safer patient handling while reducing the risk of injury to fire and EMS professionals. One key element is that it performs reliably in confined and challenging spaces where workspace for responders often is back-breaking. The RISER provides a solid investment in firefighter and EMS safety.
XplorIR
908 Devices
XplorIR is the only handheld gas/vapor detector that accurately can detect and identify 5,600-plus chemical threats in seconds. Members can monitor continuously and receive immediate answers during high-threat operations or transition to point-and-shoot mode for isolated target intelligence. XplorIR can identify and quantify as many as six gas components in real-time within complex mixtures. The handheld gas analyzer provides detection in as quick as four seconds, with positive identification results displayed within a minute. The device provides unmatched capability to not only identify but quantify more than 5,000 gases, which is critical for firefighters and hazmat teams that respond to calls where gas threats are present. XplorIR can identify hazardous chemicals, such as Tentatively Identified Compounds, volatile organic compounds, fire gases, refrigerants, petroleum products, industrial gases, solvents, corrosives and chemical warfare agents.
Firehouse Evaluation: XplorIR is a unique product that can identify thousands of airborne chemicals to provide operational intelligence and enhance safety for firefighters, who often walk into unknown situations. What’s critical for firefighters is that the device is capable of identifying the chemical in the air, as opposed to identifying specific and limited properties of that chemical. When paired with apps, it helps to provide incident commanders with real-time intelligence.
About the Author
Peter Matthews
Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director
Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood Landing, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.