FiregroundScribeWhat do we need to run it?
One Windows 10 or 11 PC that stays on and can hear your radio audio: a stream address, a scanner on the PC's audio input, or uploads from a trunked-system recorder. 8 GB of memory and a recent processor are enough; the built-in AI size-up is happier with 16 GB. About 115 MB of disk per hour of radio traffic.
How accurate is the transcription?
Good on clear fireground and dispatch audio, and it improves with your vocabulary (unit numbers, street names, local terms) and with your officers' corrections, which it learns from. Radio audio is hard: every transcript links to the recording, which is always the source of truth, and officers review the key times before they're used in a report.
Does our audio leave the station?
No. Recording, transcription and the built-in AI all run on your PC. Only the optional add-ons send data, and only what they need: cloud backup (to our private storage), the hosted AI size-up (transcripts, never EMS channels), and remote support while you allow it. Details on the security page.
Is it a MAYDAY or accountability system?
No. FiregroundScribe is a documentation tool for after-action review, reporting and benchmarks. Alerts are advisory, and it must never be relied on for MAYDAY monitoring or firefighter accountability.
Does it work with NFIRS, NERIS and our records system?
Every incident has its NFIRS Basic Module times (alarm, arrival, controlled, last unit cleared) and the NERIS fireground times (water on the fire, primary search and more), as CSV for import, through a read-only API, or pushed to your records system by signed webhook when the incident closes. Tell us which RMS you use and we'll help connect it.
What happens if our license lapses?
Recording stops and the screens say so clearly; everything already recorded stays and can still be viewed. Renew, and it starts again within a minute. Licenses check in every few hours and keep working offline for up to 30 days.
How do we pay?
By card online, or by invoice with a purchase order (check or ACH). Government agencies can be set up as tax-exempt. Plans renew yearly or monthly; renewals extend the license automatically.
How do updates and support work?
Updates install automatically when the radio is quiet, or when you choose in FiregroundScribe Manager. Most updates are small (about 10 MB), and if a new version doesn't start, the PC goes back to the previous one by itself. Support requests from the Manager include diagnostics, and with your permission we can look at the system remotely (read-only, time-limited). You can also open requests and follow our answers in the customer portal.
Can we try it more than once?
The free trial is once per department and per computer. If you need more time to decide, ask us and we'll extend it.
Can several people at our department manage the account?
Yes. In the customer portal, under Team, invite colleagues by email; each gets their own login to licenses, billing, downloads and support. (Who can use the FiregroundScribe web page at the station is set separately, in FiregroundScribe Manager → Users.)
Can we use it for training?
Yes: Training replay plays any incident back as it happened, with the transcripts and events appearing at their time, so a class can listen along, pause and discuss.