8K
Population
~30
Volunteer Members
225
Annual Call Volume
Overview
Freeburg Fire Department serves 8,000 residents near St. Louis, handling about 225 fire and rescue calls annually. With 27 volunteers and a reliance on mutual aid, the department faces growing staffing challenges—especially as volunteer numbers decline nationwide.
Challenge
Many of Freeburg’s volunteers operate pumps just a few times a month—making retraining difficult and increasing the risk of error or injury. Chief Mueller needed a system that could simplify operations while still supporting safe, confident crews.
Solution
SAM was built for departments like Freeburg, where hands-on pump time is limited. The touchscreen interface is simple and intuitive, giving volunteers confidence from day one. Automated pump steps and drafting reduce complexity while keeping operators in control and focused on the fireground.
For a volunteer department like ours, SAM fits right in. It takes the pressure off complex tasks like drafting and makes new engineers feel confident from the start. The touchscreen just makes sense to our crew—it’s familiar, it’s fast, and it works.
Hans Mueller, Chief
Results
Faster initial attack
Crews began suppression using onboard tank water immediately, while SAM transitions to hydrant supply .
“That’s it?” Training
Even new engineers are surprised by how easy SAM is to learn.
Effortless Drafting
SAM automates the hardest task with speed and reliability.
Smarter Pumping
Operators hear each step announced, so they stay informed without panel-watching.
Less Stress
Actionable, data-led alerts and automation take the pressure off multi-truck operations.