PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Firetrucks in Pigeon Forge now have dash cameras, recording how crews respond to calls and helping them improve how they approach emergencies.
Fire Chief Tony Watson said crews and fire department leaders can watch videos to learn how to better fight fires. He said the cameras cost around $130,000 and they help expand the station's training opportunities.
"A picture's worth 1,000 words," he said. "I don't think there's a better thing that we can do than to be able to share some of the stuff that we're seeing out here on a daily basis."
He said the videos can help save the lives of firefighters, making sure they approach emergencies prepared with vital information.
"We can look at how we position our apparatus. We can look at the actions our firefighters do. You got to tell them, 'Okay, this is non-punitive, we're not gonna get you in trouble. Let's talk about how we can do this better,'" he said. "We are losing firefighters needlessly, in accidents."
Nineteen firefighters died across the U.S. in vehicle crashes during 2023, and three firefighters have died so far in 2024. according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
"If I can make one difference in that right there, and save a firefighter's life — from maybe not having their seatbelt on or driving erratically — then it's been worth every penny we've ever seen," he said.
Watson also said being able to tune into what crews are seeing in the field helps him make quick decisions, improving the department's response.
"We actually can follow the battalion chief leave here mitigate the traffic," he said. "You can see a big plume of smoke. So, then again, we're getting that technology, we're knowing that, 'Hey, we do have a working fire.' So, that's triggering us to call in more resources."
Watson also said he hopes to one day give firefighters body cameras too.