The Waco, Texas, City Council has approved a three-year, $396,000 agreement with Austin-based Qwake Technologies Inc. to supply the Waco Fire Department with 16 helmet-mounted C-THRU thermal-imaging and augmented-reality units, according to the Waco Tribune-Herald and Firehouse.com. The council action, reported September 28, 2026, makes Waco the second fire department in Texas to field-evaluate the hardware.
What the Agreement Covers
The deal provides for purchase and support of the 16 C-THRU helmet-mounted devices along with command-center software, firefighter training, connectivity services and related accessories such as cases, mounts and command tablets. The city negotiated a 30% discount on the augmented-reality systems and a 60% discount on accessories compared with retail pricing, obtained through a sole-source procurement process, according to the Tribune-Herald report.
How the System Works
Qwake’s C-THRU platform combines thermal imaging with a heads-up augmented-reality display, using the company’s Edge Detection technology to help firefighters see through smoke and navigate structures hands-free. Qwake designers will train Waco firefighters before the units enter active service, which city officials expect to begin next year.
The pilot reflects a broader push among Texas municipal fire departments to evaluate wearable situational-awareness technology, though wider adoption will depend on how the equipment performs in live fireground conditions during the evaluation period. More fire and life safety developments are tracked in the SectechMedia Technology News archive.