At the recent HERE Directions event in Melbourne, a presentation from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) provided a compelling case study on how modern fleet technology can serve more than one purpose. While emergency response fleets are traditionally viewed as tools for operational deployment, the NSW RFS example shows how connected vehicles can also become mobile communication hubs, data collection platforms, and community support assets. By integrating mapping, connectivity, and real-time intelligence, organisations can use their fleets to improve both operational effectiveness and service delivery to the communities they support. From fire trucks to connected service platforms The NSW RFS manages one of the largest emergency service fleets in Australia. The organisation has more than 70,000 members across 2,000 brigades, responsible for protecting around 700,000 square kilometres of New South Wales. Each year the service responds to more than 32,000 incidents, ranging from bushfires and grass fires to vehicle accidents, storms and search-and-rescue operations. Managing resources across such a vast area creates a major logistical challenge. Dispatch centres must determine which appliance is closest to an incident while considering road closures, weather, terrain and other operational risks. In the past, this process relied heavily on radio communications and manual reporting from crews. Today, connected vehicle technologies are transforming how this information is collected, shared and acted upon. The vehicle as a connectivity hub One of the most innovative concepts presented at the event was the idea of “vehicle as a node.” The NSW RFS is currently installing satellite connectivity across thousands of its operational vehicles using low-earth-orbit satellite technology. This initiative aims to equip the fleet with always-on connectivity, even in remote areas where traditional mobile networks are unavailable. Each vehicle effectively becomes a mobile communications hub capable of supporting multiple functions: - Real-time mapping and