Posted in Press Releases, Company Announcements on February 27th, 2025
Chantilly, VA, February 27, 2025 — As California has endured one of its most catastrophic wildfire seasons in recent memory, it might be surprising that large format scanners are used in the process of combating these devastating fires. They play a small but critical role in empowering firefighters and emergency responders to maintain accurate and up-to-date maps, ensuring they have accurate information quickly needed during emergency fire situations.
“The widespread loss and hardship caused by the fires are profoundly tragic, and we send our deepest thoughts to everyone affected by wildfires,” says Jerry Gautereaux, Sales Manager, Colortrac Americas.
Paper maps are an essential fallback in modern firefighting operations, complementing digital tools. Teams need to scan, update, and reprint maps that reflect the rapidly changing terrain conditions crucial for planning fire suppression strategies.
By using Colortrac’s scanning solutions, fire services ensure the insights they annotate are registered by their GIS teams to facilitate rapid updates and distribution. Colortrac is known for inventing SingleSensor™ technology which is the most accurate solution for wide CIS scanners. CIS scanning technology is known for its crisp clear results which is especially useful in map scanning for adjustments of terrain.
The role of large format scanners when terrain changes
Any changes to terrain are oftentimes marked on large format maps out in the field and then scanned on large format scanners. This capability is particularly vital during fast-moving wildfires. In an emergency like a wildfire terrain can shift dramatically within hours and timely information is essential for making informed decisions. Having up-to-date maps allows firefighters to assess fire perimeters, identify evacuation routes, and allocate resources effectively.
A similar task out in the field is the marking of failures in critical infrastructure. For example, linemen use large maps to identify and mark power line hazards especially in fire prone areas.
While digital maps are used together with printed maps, they often cannot replace the practicality of a physical map during field operations and on the spot collaboration.
“Knowing that our scanners are aiding firefighters during such a critical time is both humbling and motivating,” said Jerry Gautereaux. “Our goal has always been to provide reliable, innovative solutions that can make a real difference.”
About Colortrac
Founded in 1989, Colortrac started by developing large format scanning solutions and quickly earned a reputation for value that led to the company winning the coveted UK Queen’s Awards for enterprise and export.
Today Colortrac serves the large format document scanning market with a portfolio of no-nonsense scanning solutions.
Contact:
Jerry Gautereaux, Sales Manager
Colortrac Americas
SalesAmericas@colortrac.com
