-- Qwake Technologies' C-THRU platform—a helmet-mounted AR system that enables firefighters to see through smoke and navigate zero-visibility environments—has been named an honoree of Fast Company's 2025 World Changing Ideas Awards in the Technology Solutions category, selected from over 1,500 global entries.
The recognition comes at a critical moment as devastating fires worldwide expose the urgent need for breakthrough firefighting technology.
The timing couldn't be more critical. Recent fires causing $250 billion in damage have highlighted a stark reality: firefighters face deadlier conditions than ever before. Synthetic building materials now burn eight times faster than traditional materials, giving crews drastically less time to execute rescues. Meanwhile, injury rates per fire have remained stagnant since the 1980s, indicating that traditional firefighting methods alone are insufficient for modern fire behavior.
"What we witnessed in recent mega fires is becoming the new normal—fires that move faster, burn hotter, and threaten entire communities," said Sam Cossman, CEO and Founder of Qwake Technologies. "C-THRU represents a paradigm shift from reactive firefighting to precision response. When you can cut primary search time in half and provide incident commanders real-time vision into zero-visibility environments, you're not just improving efficiency—you're saving lives on both sides of the fire."
Federal Government Signals National Security Priority
The recognition comes as the federal government signals that firefighting technology has become a national security imperative. Qwake has secured first-of-its-kind funding from the Department of Homeland Security: Science & Technology to deploy this technology nationwide with 80, select fire departments—an unprecedented investment that signals Washington's recognition that public safety infrastructure requires immediate modernization.
The statistics driving federal urgency are stark:
- 50% of the U.S. South will be at risk of fire loss by 2052
- 30% projected rise in extreme fire incidents globally by 2050
- Urban mega fires now pose threats traditionally seen only in wildland environments
- Volunteer firefighter numbers have dropped by 220,000 since 1984, even as call volumes increase
"This isn't just about better equipment—it's about fundamentally reimagining how we protect communities worldwide," said Cossman. "Recent mega fires demonstrated that traditional approaches are no match for climate-intensified fire behavior. C-THRU provides the technological leap forward that matches the scale of the challenge."
Technology That Transforms Crisis Response
C-THRU combines edge detection, thermal imaging, and AI-powered navigation in a hands-free system that provides capabilities previously impossible in emergency response:
- Real-time vision through smoke: Firefighters can navigate and conduct searches in zero-visibility conditions
- >50% faster primary searches: Critical time savings that determine life-or-death outcomes
- Live incident commander coordination: Real-time video streaming and visual communication between field crews and command
- Predictive navigation: AI-powered pathfinding that helps firefighters maintain orientation in complex structures
The technology addresses a fundamental challenge exposed by recent mega fires: traditional firefighting relies on visibility and spatial awareness that modern fire conditions eliminate. When firefighters can't see, search times extend, risks multiply, and outcomes deteriorate.
From Innovation to Infrastructure
What began as breakthrough technology is rapidly becoming essential infrastructure. C-THRU is now deploying across 80+ fire departments through Qwake's Pioneer Program, with congressional support driving toward $10 million in federal appropriations to scale nationwide deployment.
Early adopters report transformational results:
- Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX): Training next-generation firefighters with AR-enhanced capabilities
- Major metropolitan departments: Integrating C-THRU into standard operating procedures for structure fires
- Federal agencies: Evaluating applications for specialized response scenarios
"The departments using C-THRU aren't just early adopters—they're demonstrating the future of firefighting," said Cossman. "When Fast Company recognizes this technology alongside solutions for global challenges, it confirms what we've known: this is infrastructure-level innovation."
Recognition Signals Broader Transformation
Fast Company's World Changing Ideas Awards honor products, concepts, and policies designed to make the world safer, cleaner, and more equitable. This year's awards showcase 100 outstanding projects selected by Fast Company editors and reporters based on impact, sustainability, design, creativity, scalability, and ability to improve society.
"The World Changing Ideas Awards have always been about showcasing the art of the possible," says Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan. "We're proud to recognize the organizations and leaders that are making meaningful progress on the biggest issues of our time."
For Qwake, the recognition validates a mission that extends beyond technology: reimagining public safety for an era of unprecedented challenges.
The Stakes Have Never Been Higher
As climate change intensifies fire behavior and urban development increases exposure risks, the gap between traditional firefighting capabilities and modern fire challenges continues to widen. Recent mega fires have provided a preview of what experts predict will become routine: fires that overwhelm conventional response capabilities and threaten entire metropolitan areas.
C-THRU represents a response equal to the challenge—technology that doesn't just improve existing capabilities but creates entirely new ones. In an era where firefighters have "less time to get out of fires than ever before in history," according to Dr. Lori Moore, U.S. Fire Administrator, breakthrough innovations aren't luxuries—they're survival tools.
"We're at an inflection point," said Cossman. "The question isn't whether firefighting technology needs to evolve—it's whether we'll deploy the innovations fast enough to match the pace of change in fire behavior. This Fast Company recognition confirms we're on the right path."
About Qwake Technologies
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Qwake Technologies develops C-THRU, the first augmented reality platform designed specifically for firefighter safety and operational effectiveness. With 27 original patents and unprecedented support from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Qwake's mission is to revolutionize first response through breakthrough technology that saves lives and protects communities. C-THRU has been called "the greatest innovation the firefighting industry has seen in 30 years" by fire service leaders. For more information, visit www.qwake.tech.
About Fast Company
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with their sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.
For immediate interviews: Qwake executives are available to discuss how AR technology could transform emergency response, the federal government's role in public safety innovation, and lessons learned from recent mega fire events. High-resolution images, live demonstration videos, and technical specifications available upon request.
Contact Info:
Name: Austin James, Head of Marketing
Email: Send Email
Organization: Qwake Technologies
Phone: 703-980-3744
Website: https://www.qwake.tech/
Release ID: 89164285
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