Introducing a Revolutionary New Program Specifically Designed To Keep Wildland

Firefighters Alive!

A Heartfelt Thank YouAs a 25- year veteran of wildland firefighting, swift water rescues, and numerous other emergency response incidents, I want to take the time to thank all those that have shown their support for our efforts. I have seen posters, billboards, and homes painted with “thank you!” and “we love you!” from Alaska to Arizona. I’ve been applauded, clapped on the back, taken to lunch, and yes, even kissed, by the most thankful and supportive people on the planet. Honestly folks, not only is it our job, but most of us love what we do, so there are times when it is not really deserved, I feel, but always, always appreciated. I think I speak for all of us when I say that your praise and admiration are worn like a badge of honor, and

rightfully so, by everyone in the profession. I am at the same time humbled and honored to not just be a part of this brotherhood, but part of this incredibly selfless family. Now I want to tell you about something that you can do for wildland firefighters and emergency responders everywhere that will actually help save their life!

Seriously. This is a time when you can actually make an impact that could indeed be a life-saver. Read on if you want to find out how.

Bad Days for Firefighters and their FamiliesFirst of all, this is a dangerous profession, and as firefighters we both understand and accept that. However, it is a fact that we have lost far too many brothers in arms because we don’t use current technology. Remember the South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain in Colorado? On July 6th, 1994, 14 firefighters were overrun by fire when the winds shifted and sent the fire racing towards them. Within 10 minutes the fire blazed up from the canyon reached the ridgeline and overtook 12 firefighters. There were no survivors. Two more firefighters were working at a helipad about a half a kilometer away. They also tried to outrun the fire and were overcome. Much closer to home was the Yarnell Hill tragedy on June 30th, 2013. In that case, 19 firefighters perished even while in direct contact with incident command! Unfortunately, the reason for both incidents is basically the same. Bad information. Miscommunication. Unreliable resources. Incident Command staff had no way of knowing where the crews were in relation to the fire, nor did they have a way to pinpoint their GPS signals to send help. These deaths could have been prevented. And they can be prevented today. But not until the Forest Service starts using new technology and new tactics. That is where you all come in. Let me tell you how.

Our Solution to the ProblemSince the Yarnell Hill Fire, the team at Adventech Engineering in Los Alamos, New Mexico, has been working on a project that not only manages all the resources needed during a complex Type 1 or type 2 wildland fire, it maps, tracks, and can communicate with every single firefighter in the field. Regardless of his or her location, the weather, or the terrain. Don’t worry, I’ve heard all the arguments of why and how it can’t be done. Well, when I’m not putting out forest fires or running in the ambulance as a first responder, I am a seasoned mechanical and electrical engineer of 30 years, and I say yes it can. We named the system Prometheus’ Shield, after the Greek God who gave us fire. We use a military-grade GPS tracker (MILSTD 830F), which automatically switches to the iridium satellite network when no standard cell phone signal is available, or if the signal is took weak. This unit can even send and receive text messages no matter where you are on the planet. So, there is now a comprehensive system available to Incident Command Staff to monitor, control, and communicate with every firefighter on the line. Guaranteed. There’s a whole lot more to Prometheus’ Shield, but the important part for this discussion is the tracking and communications service. The rest is cool data reporting stuff for future fire

behavior predictive services and a reporting module. Go to the website and it will explain it in much more detail.

How Can You Help?What we need from every single member of the community is this:

1. Tell everyone you know that you heard about a revolutionary new program that will help save firefighters in the field. The more people hear about it, the harder it is to ignore.

2. Visit our website! www.prometheusshield.com. We post some cool news and fire photos, but when the whole program is up and running, there will be a URL every single fire we manage.

3. Tell every firefighter and emergency responder you know that they should get a HawkEye PT+ tracker and singe up with Prometheus’ Shield for the service.

4. Go to our Facebook page and share, share, share. Like, Like, Like. I will post daily updates on the page.

5. Go to our Go Fund Me page and donate. Anything. We are completely self-funded, and we are running out of money. The link is provided below.

Now You Can Help Save a Firefighter’s Life!

We need your help!

Plain and simple. We have been self-funded, and proud of it, since our inception in July of 2013. In that time, we have created Prometheus’ Shield, the only wildland fire incident management program that includes real-time GPS tracking of firefighters.

Well, 3 years and nearly $300,000 later, we are out of funds, and we still have final field acceptance trials to perform. We can’t do it without help.

Make no mistake, this system will save lives. Our own. Every day that our brothers and sisters are out on the front lines without Prometheus Shield is asking for another Yarnell Hill disaster. Please, we don’t want to suspend operations now, but we will probably have to without an influx of capital very soon. We are on the verge of signing a teaming agreement to perform research work with Prometheus’ Shield on a Desert Research Institute technology grant, but we must have some operating capital behind us to make that happen.

Visit www.prometheusshield.com to read all about the Prometheus’ Shield program, its capabilities, and its value. Then come back here. I am asking that if you have any ability

to help support us financially, we desperately need you contributions. Anything, small or large. If I had just $20 from just my firefighter

connections and friends, it would be enough to cover us for now. If there are those interested in a larger investment and want to discuss company shares or ownership, I am willing to discuss that as well. I know that every one of you who has worked the front lines know what it is like to be in the working in the field without a reliable connection to Incident Command. Prometheus’ Shield provides that critical link. Help us prevent it from happening again. It seems like cheap insurance for $20.

For the work we all perform, wouldn’t it be better to invest in prevention rather than in compensation? We need solutions, not more examples of the consequences of doing nothing. Again, thanks to all of you who dedicate your lives to this profession, those that volunteer their time and resources to feed and water us, or to just say ‘Thanks.”, and my deepest gratitude to the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and still support us. WE could not do it without your unwavering support. Please help us continue that great legacy, and give those on the front lines the chance to come back to do it again tomorrow.

Click on the image to donate

Please visit www.prometheusshield.com.

For all of us on the Prometheus’ Shield team,

Bill King September 2016