The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) 2024 Technology Summit International (TSI) was a successful event that showcased the modern fire service's innovation and collaborative potential.
The summit, which took place between December 4 and 6 in Oklahoma City, followed a non-traditional conference format and was attended by over 550 participants. TSI involved 45 unique sessions, including open forum workshops on data and drones, hands-on AI & CRR workshops, two-way dialogue sessions on wearables and fire station technology, and fun networking events, culminating TSI into the most valuable fire technology show in the industry.
Shark Tank & First Responder Awards
Two awards, focused on emerging start-ups and practical use cases of technology in the field, highlighted the spirit of innovation at TSI 2024.
Paradigm Robotics, led by Siddharth Thakur, claimed the second annual Shark Tank Pitch Award with its cutting-edge advances in robotics technology for emergency response. Their practical robotic solutions are designed to operate in hazardous environments, assisting first responders in fire ground operations where efficiency and safety are paramount. Other notable Shark Tank participants included:
The First Responder Innovation Award, which recognizes forward-thinking applications of technology to enhance firefighter performance, was awarded to Kate Kapalo of DC Fire & EMS for their work in firefighter readiness, health monitoring, and location tracking through smartwatches. This pioneering initiative provides real-time health alerts and tracking capabilities, ensuring first responders are continuously monitored for safety and well-being.
Other finalists in the First Responder Innovation Award included:
Both award recipients exemplify how innovative technologies can enhance safety, situational awareness, and operational efficiency within the fire service.
A New Era of Participant-Led Learning
This year’s unique format emphasized collaboration and active engagement, breaking away from traditional lecture-style presentations. Sessions like AI for First Responders and Community Risk Reduction saw dynamic, two-way dialogues and hands-on workshops featuring drones, wearables, and AI tools. Participants explored why technology adoption matters, the outcomes it delivers, and actionable paths for practical implementation.
Fostering a Culture of Curiosity and Collaboration
“TSI 2024 pushed us to rethink old assumptions and adopt problem-centric approaches. By encouraging curiosity and celebrating neural diversity, we’ve laid the foundation for fostering meaningful collaboration across the fire service, tech innovators, and policymakers.”
-Kevin Sofen, IAFC Technology Council member and summit organizer
Optimizing for Safety and Service
Key takeaways from TSI 2024 underscore a shift in priorities: outcomes over outputs. Technology is only as good as the good it does. The fire service community must redefine success by integrating proven, innovative tools into daily operations, ultimately reducing civilian fire deaths and improving firefighter safety.
Looking Ahead to 2025
With the success of 2024’s summit, the IAFC plans to expand and enhance TSI further in 2025. Building around the core principles of participant-led prioritization and community-driven innovation, TSI 2025 will introduce new, collaborative events, such as a Hackathon, to develop new solutions to pressing fire service challenges in real time. The summit's focus will continue to be the development of adaptable, sustainable frameworks for integrating technologies like AI, drones, and wearable tech into the fire and EMS sector.
Thank You to Our Vendors and Participants
TSI 2024 would not have been possible without the generous support of our vendors, participants, partner organizations, and sponsors. Their collaboration helped make this summit a hands-on, interactive experience, and their continuing support is helping build an even stronger foundation for TSI 2025.
The future of this industry-leading event will be one of continued collaboration, partnership, open knowledge-sharing, and vendor engagement. The IAFC aims to ensure an impactful and dynamic experience for all attendees and looks forward to doing so in the coming years.
About TSI
The Technology Summit International is an annual event organized by the International Association of Fire Chiefs to advance technology development, adoption, and innovation within the fire service. Core principles of actionability, sustainability, and active collaboration between all fire and emergency services community members define the event and help bridge gaps between first responders, tech developers, and policymakers.
To learn more about via the TSI website.