NEW ROCHELLE, NY (November 5, 2025) — New Rochelle Fire Department members trained Wednesday on upgrades to their Electronic Fireground Accountability System, known as EFAS, a real-time tracking technology developed by the New York City Fire Department to boost firefighter safety.
“On the fireground, accountability – keeping track of every member – is paramount,” the department stated in a social media update. The upgraded system integrates with portable radios and self-contained breathing apparatus to monitor each firefighter’s location, assigned unit, unit position and remaining air supply in their SCBA bottle, delivering “vital information when needed” to incident commanders via a mobile data terminal.
EFAS enables instant mayday alerts when a firefighter presses the radio’s emergency button or verbally calls for help, immediately identifying the individual by name, company and position. Commanders can issue building-wide evacuation orders or trigger electronic personnel accountability reports with a few button presses, reducing radio confusion and response times.
Running on the department’s voice network, the system logs all alerts, transmissions and events for post-incident review. “Members train regularly to remain proficient, looking to be ready for the moment of truth,” the department added.
Originally launched by FDNY in 2011 after extensive testing, EFAS has been adopted by departments like NRFD, which uses regular drills to maintain crew readiness and remains a cornerstone of modern fireground safety.
The second department to get it was New Rochelle. Since then over 100 major departments have purchased EFAS. These departments include Albuquerque, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Detroit, Hartford, Houston, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis, & Montreal. Locally; Eastchester, Larchmont, Pelham, Pelham Manor and Yonkers.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
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