Real-Life Incident: Brian’s Story - Containing a Texas Brush Fire

How quick action stopped a blaze from spreading, safeguarding nearby neighborhoods

In a farming community in rural Texas with a population fewer than 50, Brian, an oil, and gas worker, was performing routine operations when he spotted a rapidly spreading brush fire in the distance.  

With flames visible and strong winds carrying embers across the dry landscape, he knew he needed to act fast—it was Texas wildfire season. 

A Critical Latch Pull

Brian immediately pulled the SOS latch on his Blackline G7 Lone Worker safety device. Within moments, an alert was received at Blackline’s Safety Operations Center (SOC) and responded to by a professional trained agent who called Brian on his device right away. 

“This is Blackline. We have an SOS triggered. Are you OK?”

“I’m OK, but we have a fire out here at one of our locations. I need you to call the fire department.”

Blackline’s G7 wearables are the only connected devices on the market offering two-way voice so first responders can communicate directly with workers during an emergency.

Coordinated Response Via GPS and Two-Way Voice 

Brian explained the situation to the responding SOC agent and requested that the fire department be dispatched. Using real-time GPS data from the G7 device, the SOC agent was able to pinpoint his exact location. The agent confirmed Brian was out of immediate danger and the fire was moving in the opposite direction of the active work site, posing no threat to equipment or infrastructure. 

Dispatch Success: Fire Department on Scene

“Stay on the line with me. I’m calling the fire department now.” 

The SOC immediately contacted emergency services, relaying accurate coordinates and situational details and remained on the line with Brian until help arrived. Firefighters arrived at the location within minutes and successfully contained the outbreak before it could grow into a more dangerous wildfire.  

A Timely Reminder During Wildfire Season

The worker’s vigilance and the fast action through his G7 device helped prevent what could have been a much larger disaster. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, over 70,000 wildfires on average burn across the U.S. each year, many sparked by natural causes like lightning or embers. 

Additional Real-Life Story

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