Buffalo-based software to improve preparedness and protect firefighters

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Technology born in the Queen City is now keeping firefighters safe across the country.

“Florian” is a software that helps track first responders in burning buildings.

The idea for the technology was born out of tragedy, when two Buffalo firefighters were killed while responding to a fire on Genesee Street in 2009.

The developer of the software, Patrick O-Conner, a former Grand Island firefighter, told me he knew there had to be a better way to protect responders doing their jobs, so he decided to create it himself.

When duty calls, firefighters are sometimes dispatched simultaneously with, or even before, ambulances to provide rapid medical intervention.

Patrick O’Conner, president and co-founder of 3AM Innovations, said, “In an active shooter, sometimes the first responders on the scene are the fire department, whether it’s medical or otherwise. Knowing where they are and where the safe zones are that they can get into is critical.”

Patrick O’Connor is the President and Co-Founder of 3AM Innovations.

He was a firefighter with the Grand Island Volunteer Fire Department for five years.

“The typical firefighter has no idea where they are inside the building. It’s all based on their own instincts and intuition as to where they are as they go through a structure. You’re supposed to do a report every few minutes or a PAR (personal responsibility report), but if you’re confused, asking someone to come and rescue you is going to make it very difficult,” O’Connor said.

He created “Florian” with the help of Ryan Litt, co-founder and CEO of 3AM Innovations.

The software platform is used to automate the safety of our first responders.

O’Connor said, “With us, you can see someone using a Garmin satellite device, someone using a cell phone, someone using a smart watch, all on one map. This actually allows fire departments to have multiple different devices, all tracking movement on one device.”

“The most important application is the ‘mayday.’ Typically every first responder calls when they’re in trouble, so that’s where we started. Since then, we’ve adapted and used it responsibly,” said Ryan Litt, co-founder and CEO of 3AM Innovations.

They send your signal to command so resources can come get you or they assign other firefighters in the building to do so.

Florian was launched in 2021.

It has been used in other cities like Philadelphia and Boston, and now the Buffalo-based company will improve incident management in Orchard Park.

“Orchard Park has an interesting setup because it’s one of the only fire departments in the country that also serves a major NFL team, and therefore very high-volume events,” Litt said.

I contacted Orchard Park VFD for a statement on this software that would improve preparation:

It will be useful for all types of events, including large events outside of fire situations, like marathons, Superbowl games, and even during Bills games.

All of this is achieved by using AI technology to assist firefighters.

O’Connor said: “Think of it this way: The boss is outside the building. They have this system that runs out of the back of their vehicle, so they can see where their employees are in real time, but they don’t have to manage Florian themselves. Someone offsite could help, whether it’s at headquarters or the alarm office.”

They are helping to solve a problem so that tragedies like the one in 2009 do not happen again.

Florian will be alive in time for the Bills’ season.