Waco City Council Approved Fire Helmet Pilot
The city has secured a three-year deal to test augmented reality gear for local fire department personnel.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in People
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Waco City Council members approved a $396,000 agreement to supply the Waco Fire Department with 16 augmented reality helmet systems. These thermal imaging units will undergo field testing to evaluate their performance in emergency response scenarios.
Why it matters
The pilot program allows firefighters to integrate thermal imaging with advanced navigation and communication tools. This testing phase will help the manufacturer refine the technology before potential wider adoption.
The city acquired 16 C-THRU helmet-mounted units and command software through a sole-source procurement process. The three-year pilot agreement includes significant price reductions on both the primary hardware and supporting accessories.
The players
Waco City Council
This local government body oversees legislative decisions and budget allocations for the city of Waco.
Waco Fire Department
The local agency is responsible for emergency response and fire protection services throughout the Waco area.
Qwake Technologies Inc.
This company develops augmented reality solutions for first responders and maintains headquarters in Austin, Texas.
The details
Firefighters will utilize the C-THRU systems to improve situational awareness, using the devices for navigation and post-incident reviews. Qwake Technologies Inc. staff will visit the local training facility to conduct an instructional program before the equipment enters active service.
Timeline
Waco City Council approved the three-year agreement in September 2026.
Equipment delivery is expected to occur in November 2026.
The department plans to deploy the new systems in January 2027.
Market Landscape
The adoption of C-THRU augmented reality helmet systems follows a trend of Texas municipal departments integrating specialized wearable tech for first responders. This pilot program marks Waco as only the second Texas fire department to evaluate this specific hardware.
Local residents will see their fire department testing new safety technology that aims to improve emergency response efficiency. While this is an experimental pilot, successful outcomes could influence future municipal equipment procurement policies.
The takeaway
Advanced thermal imaging equipment continues to see expanded use in public safety sectors through municipal pilot programs. These tests provide crucial field data that allow manufacturers to improve device reliability for future iterations.
Further reading
Learn more about local government initiatives in the Waco People section.
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Should your local government increase spending on advanced technology to support emergency responders?
