INTRODUCTION
Located west of Colorado Springs, CO, the all-volunteer Florissant Fire Department is prepared to serve their community and thousands of visitors annually from all over the Pikes Peak region and beyond.
Florissant Fire Rescue provides structural and wild land firefighting services, first response medical care, basic hazardous materials response, and a variety of other rescue services.
The Florissant Fire Department facility is also used by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for training and investigations. Training is essential and the only way to ensure the safety of first responders, which gives them the confidence to act in hazardous circumstances.
THE CHALLENGE
The Florissant Fire Department needed to update its training technology to meet mission critical demands and restore the EOC and Training Facility to its place as a premiere community center for training and public service. Reliable technology is critical to minimizing firefighter injury or death, saving the lives of victims, and reducing or preventing extensive property damage.
THE SOLUTION
Jim Pope, Diamond Master Programmer, Applied Global Technologies and Allen D. Schultz, Project Lead, designed and deployed a solution based on a Crestron DigitalMedia™ Presentation System with AirMedia® wireless presentation technology.
THE TECHNOLOGY
It was imperative to provide first responders with the tools to assess the scene quickly, know what to do, and how to do it.
“The nature of emergency medicine has changed quite a bit. With Crestron we are able to utilize technology to enhance our training and response at the scene and be better prepared when emergencies arise,” explains Schultz.
Now, photos and videos from the scene are transmitted to the station and then instantly shown on large displays via AirMedia. This enables officers to assess an event in less time, better anticipate needs and allocate resources, and provide real-time direction to first responders.
Versatile DigitalMedia technology plays a critical role in training and communications. With the department becoming more and more reliant on multimedia for training, DigitalMedia enables them to view instructional videos on 4k displays throughout the facility and prepare briefing materials on multiple workstations which can then be shared to the main display.
RESULTS
The Florissant Fire Department is not only a hub for training, but also a command center for multiple agencies, such as the FBI, CBI, and others during emergencies. The Crestron system is adaptable to the mission critical demands of the station and has proved integral to the department’s ability to make a difference when the community is in crisis.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
