KANSAS CITY —While working on a fire at the Batliner Recycling facility on Saturday, the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department placed its remote-controlled tracked robot into service for the first time.
Just before 7a.m., crews responded to a reported fire at 2501 Front Street crews reported a large fire on the east end of the property, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. The fire involved several semi trailers along with large piles of recyclable materials. Multiple companies were dispatched to get the fire under control.
The railroad lines had to be shut down in order to run water supply lines across the tracks.
In a historical moment for KCFD, a remote operated tracked robot capable of supplying 2500 gallons of water per minute was placed in service for the first time. The fire was brought under control around 9:00 a.m.
The robot apparatus is equipped with multiple cameras, including thermal imaging, a front mounted blade for debris, tracked mobility for ease of operation and accessibility, and is supplied by multiple supply lines producing upwards of 2500 gallons per minute of water for fire suppression.
The apparatus can be used in various applications in both offensive and defensive operations to include large commercial structures, subterranean operations such as commercial caves, which Kansas City has many. It can also be used in defensive operations where placing firefighters would come at great risk, along with other various suppression activities.
This technology continues to keep the Kansas City Fire Department on the cutting edge of the fire service and adds to our storied history of leading the way in the industry.