We began by building foundational knowledge understanding key terminology, context, and existing practices within the domain. This ensured that we shared a common language with stakeholders and could engage meaningfully without misunderstanding technical terms.

Firefighting is one of the core operational functions under SCDF which Involves:

• Building fire suppression

• Rescue operations

• Fire prevention and enforcement

• Deployment of firefighting tech and gear

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Frontline firefighters are the first responders directly engaging in fire and rescue operations

They operate in:

• High-heat, low-visibility conditions

• Life-threatening, time-sensitive situations

• Teams coordinated by incident command

Tools and Systems Used by Firefighters:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) 

• Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for protection

• Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs)

• Radios for comms and info

• Command support systems (e.g. dashboards, building layout data)
   

Why Focus on Frontline Firefighters?

• Physically and mentally demanding role

• Critical to public safety and survival

• High dependency on effective systems and tools

• Opportunity for tech innovation to support safety, awareness, and decision-making

2.Stakeholder Interview

We conducted open-ended, non-leading interviews with domain experts to learn about their standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the challenges they face. This step helped us uncover real-world pain points without introducing bias.

Muadz, Ns Firefighter,Punggol Fire Station Interview 1

1. Could you share what a typical day at the fire station was like for you during your NS?

• Worked on a 24-hour duty followed by 48 hours of rest.

• Started each shift at 8:00 a.m. with equipment checks and crew assignments to specific vehicles.

• Daily routine included drills, downtime, cleaning duties, physical training, and night lectures.

• Always had to be ready for emergency calls at any time.

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2. What kind of roles and responsibilities did you personally handle on a regular basis?

• Responded to emergencies, conducted rescues, and fought fires.

• Ensured personal and team safety.

• Participated in all routines like drills, cleaning, lectures, and fitness training to stay prepared.

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3. How did your team typically prepare for an emergency call? Was there a specific routine or protocol you followed?

• Strict one-minute turnout time after the alarm.

• Practiced wearing gear and using equipment quickly.

• Reconfirmed SOPs en route to the incident.

• Familiarity with multiple incident categories (e.g., fire types, suicide rescues, cardiac arrests, chemical incidents).

4. When responding to different types of incidents, how were tasks usually divided among the team?

• Fire: nozzleman, breaker, commander, support crew.

• Suicide Rescue: net setup, floor intervention, negotiation.

• Cardiac Arrest: CPR and airway management.

• Road Accidents: victim rescue or body retrieval.

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5. Were there any tools or equipment you relied on the most during operations? Were there any that felt outdated or inefficient?

• Heavily relied on bolt cutters, power saws, thermal imagers, rabbit tools, breaching tools, hydraulic spreaders/cutters, and reciprocating saws.

• Power saws, chainsaws, and generators were often hard to start and unreliable.

• Battery-operated tools required constant attention.

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6. What parts of your daily routine or emergency response felt repetitive or unnecessarily manual?

• Daily equipment checks felt tedious but were necessary.

• Repetitive tasks like fuel top-ups, manual tool warm-ups, and generator prep consumed time and felt outdated.

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7. Were there moments during an operation where you felt like more coordination or support could’ve helped the outcome?

• Situations involving faulty hydrants, risers, or lifts required heavy improvisation and caused delays.

• Better advance intel or maintenance reporting could have helped avoid these inefficiencies.

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8. What kind of non-fire-related emergencies did you respond to most often?

• Most frequent were cardiac arrests and suicide rescues.

• Required collaboration with medical and police services.

• Demanded emotional intelligence and calm under pressure.

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9. Could you walk me through how you and your team would approach a suicide rescue or similar high-risk situation?

• Emphasis on stealth and coordination to avoid alarming the victim.

• Multi-level deployment: rescuers above and below the victim.

• DART support involved roof access and rope rescues.

• Could escalate to CPR if victim jumped.

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10. What are some of the biggest bottlenecks when trying to save a suicide victim?

• Lack of clear initial intel on victim’s location or condition.

• Locked or faulty access routes.

• Setup time for high-angle rescue equipment added delay.

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11. What factors usually slow things down or make those kinds of situations especially difficult to handle?

• Victim’s fragile mental state slowed response.

• Communication barriers and silence from the victim increased complexity.

• Required calm, empathetic, and cautious team behavior under pressure.

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12. Were there ever moments where communication or decision-making became a challenge on-site?

• Occasional internal disagreements or miscommunications about tasks/tools.

• Poor decisions or unclear leadership sometimes had serious consequences.

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13. If there was one thing you wish you had that would’ve helped make your job easier or safer, what would it be?

• Stronger team chemistry would enhance effectiveness.

• Lighter, more ergonomic bunker gear.

• Health/status tracking tech for real-time updates on team member safety during operations.