The Oklahoma City Fire Department is testing Qwake Technologies' C-Thru system, which uses AI and augmented reality to help firefighters see through smoke. The units mount on the helmet, and the system also transmits the firefighter's view to commanders outside the building.
The department was one of 30 fire departments nationwide selected for a Homeland Security field assessment of the technology. Fire Chief Richard Kelley said the department joined when a Department of Homeland Security opportunity opened to departments and it stepped through the door.
Demonstration
On Monday 28 September 2026, the technology was shown in live-fire demonstrations in front of the Oklahoma State Capitol. Local coverage described the system as having moved beyond testing generally and being used in real-world scenarios, but the reports do not say that Oklahoma City has adopted it, so the project is treated as a pilot.
Reported results
Both figures below cover the whole multi-department assessment, not Oklahoma City alone.
- 81% of firefighters in the assessment reported better orientation in zero-visibility conditions, according to Qwake Technologies CEO Sam Cossman.
- Crews finished search and rescue in about half the time they previously took, as reported by KOKH.
