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Turlock approves pilot purchase of Quake ‘see‑through’ helmets for firefighters
Summary
The City Council approved a $300,000 pioneer‑program agreement with Quake Technologies to equip Turlock fire apparatus with helmet‑mounted augmented‑reality cameras, command tablets and training. Council debate focused on sole‑source concerns, unit counts, ongoing costs and program timing; vote passed 3–1.
The Turlock City Council on Tuesday voted to approve a three‑year pioneer agreement with Quake Technologies to provide helmet‑mounted “see‑through” augmented‑reality systems for the fire department.
Fire Department leadership said the $300,000 pioneer package includes 16 helmet units (camera and battery pack), three incident‑command tablets, initial training, warranty and a device refresh at the end of the contract. Chief presentation materials and Quake representatives described the system as a heads‑up visual and thermal imaging tool that streams interior video to incident commanders and adds navigation and object‑recognition capabilities over time.
Quake CEO Sam Kossman told council the company developed the system with Department of Homeland Security funding and extensive field trials. “We’ve been developing this capability called ‘see through’… it allows firefighters to see through the dark, through smoke, to be able to rapidly get in and out of the fire,” Kossman said.
Council discussion focused on procurement and oversight. One council member said the item moved quickly and preferred wider market vetting; another cited a time‑limited funding source and urged the council not to forfeit the opportunity. The chief said participation in the pioneer program includes a long‑term pricing guarantee and an equipment refresh at contract end. Staff reported the estimated ongoing maintenance cost after the three‑year term would be about $65,000 annually for software/communications services.
The motion to authorize the agreement passed on a 3–1 roll call vote, with Council member Aroff voting no.
What happens next: staff will finalize contract details and begin the procurement/order process; Quake estimated 8–10 weeks from purchase order to operational deployment, including local training. The chief said equipment would be integrated into daily staffing on fire apparatus once training is complete.
Range of viewpoints: supporters said the system could increase firefighter safety and operational capability; skeptics urged due diligence and broader market comparisons before committing long‑term funds.
