Innovative Ideas

The purpose of this page is to share innovative ideas from anyone in the wildland fire community.  If you have an idea you think should be here, contact any NIMO, and they will assist you in starting the process. All ideas are vetted by the NIMO Executive Council before being posted.


_PORTABLE RADIO SYSTEM_____________________________________________

Eric Martinez has developed a portable dispatch system that is capable of inter-operability and remote use including ICP, spike camps, and other remote locations. The system is capable of integrating into existing radio systems and computer networks. Watch this video, as Eric walks through the details, costs and functionality of the system .

Eric Martinez -  Portable Radio System Video - 10 minutes

_WILDFIRES NEAR ME_________________________________________________

PIO Kris Eriksen and Ben Butler at NIFC developed a new fire information tool for the public called Wildfires Near me, aimed specifically at providing information on new and emerging fires.  The web-app launched May 6, 2016. 

To try the tool, the URL is:
http://www.wildfiresnearme.wfmrda.com/

_TASMANIAN SOCIAL MEDIA RESEARCH PAPER_____________________________

NIMO PIO Kris Eriksen was fortunate to be selected for the 2014 Bushfire Study Tour of Australia and New Zealand. On that trip, she met a woman in Tasmania who was instrumental in shaping how we can leverage communities to assist on fires. Dr. Mel Irons had no experience in emergencies nor did she do much SM; she just stepped up to help when things got crazy in 2013. Then, with her interest peaked in the success of the process, she went to get her Ph.D in a related field, and as part of that, wrote this paper.

Based on her experience, related in this paper, I have found that asking community FB pages to post official information (they post it to their pages not me) and keep me informed about comments and possible rumors (I give them my direct cell number) has resulted in solidifying community relations, lessened the number of rumors that are spread and has ensured the community is getting both “official” fire information as well as the community help they need that we typically don’t provide.

Please take the time to read: Social Media, Crisis Communication and Community Led Response and Recovery: An Australian Case Study