(CHANDLER, AZ – April 30, 1997) - Fire Chiefs from across the State were queried recently by FieldSoft Inc., at the annual Arizona Fire Chiefs Convention. The expert advice was sought to aid in the development of a software application specifically designed to help command officers at the scene of fires and other life threatening incidents. Fire Chiefs were shown a working prototype of the software and asked to provide input regarding desired features and user interface issues.

The experiences of co-founder Mark Bouchard (a career battalion chief with the Chandler AZ Fire Department) led to development of the product. Mark had been using paper based or marker board type tactical worksheets to keep tract of -- and manage -- people, resources and events during incidents. He realized however, that the manual methods used to manage strategic and tactical activities were not keeping pace with the complex incidents that fire departments were responding to. Mark then set out to find software that could "do the job".

He first surveyed the market for existing "command" applications. The two that he found were unacceptable for field use because they were designed for data processing purposes first, and incident commanders second. He then approached several software companies in hope of getting the necessary software written. According to Mark, "all of the companies I approached had no interest in writing software on a speculative basis. In fact, most had no idea what actually took place on the scene of the incident. Moreover, some gave me the impression that writing such software was beneath them. At that point Mark then felt he had no choice except to develop and market the software himself.

The command software will be called FDonScene and is scheduled for a third quarter release.

FieldSoft, Inc. is a leading US based provider of information products (for automated incident command and post incident narrative reporting capability) to public safety organizations. These include FDonScene, PDonScene, EMSonScene Incident Command software products. FieldSoft products are used to improve on-scene safety, incident command management, narrative reporting accuracy and reduced reporting costs for fire, EMS, police and other government and private sector agencies. FieldSoft products are marketed and sold through a network of value added resellers, network integrators and public safety equipment manufacturers. The company is headquartered in Chandler, AZ. It is located at 610 N. Alma School Road, Suite 18-305, chandler, AZ 85224, telephone 602-899-2198, fax 602-899-8123 and www.fieldsoft.com.

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