Navigation app alert system aims to protect firefighters

In this image from HAAS Alert, a driver receives a notification that an emergency vehicle is on scene nearby. The Tiburon and Southern Marin fire protection districts are integrating the new Safety Cloud alert system, which uses Apple Maps and Waze to tell drivers of approaching or stopped emergency vehicles, even if the driver isn’t actively using the GPS system.

Responding to accidents on the freeway is one of the most dangerous situations firefighters face, according to Tiburon Fire Chief Tommy Hellyer. As emergency responders aid victims of car accidents, freeway traffic continues to pass by — creating a significant hazard.

“We have procedures to block vehicle accidents, but drivers need to slow down and move over,” Hellyer said.

To address this danger, the Tiburon and Southern Marin fire protection districts implemented the HAAS Alert Safety Cloud in April. It sends alerts to drivers’ phones when they’re approaching an emergency vehicle on the roadside or when an emergency vehicle is coming up behind them — potentially before a driver notices the flashing lights or hears the sirens.

“Many drivers these days are distracted or their vehicles have thick windows,” Hellyer said. “We hope this mitigates some of the risk.”

According to the Chicago-based HAAS company, the new system — which Hellyer said costs the Tiburon agency $1,895 per year — could reduce accidents between emergency responders and the public by up to 90%.

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