The New York Fire Department videotapes fire footage in the field and then converts it into emergency training videos that can help to safe lives. Until recently the FDNY was working with outdated equipment. Although Fire Officials were already using digital camcorders to capture the footage at the scene, back in their headquarters they had to convert the digital signal on to an analog, lower quality VHS tape to edit it.

The antiquated equipment turned the video editing of the often vital footage into a troublesome and time-consuming process. "They had a row boat when they needed a speed boat," said Jerry Thompson, Vice President and General Manager for Pinnacle's Business & Consumer Division.

Pinnacle Systems joined forces with three other high profile technology companies to bring the FDNY into the digital age of video editing. The company combined resources with B&H Photo and Video, Hewlett Packard and Intel and provided the NYC Fire Department with two comprehensive Digital Video Editing Systems. Each workstation is worth about $12,000 and is similar to the editing systems used at professional broadcast stations.

The two brand new editing systems were presented to the FDNY, located in Brooklyn, New York on August 28, 2002.

"With the Technology provided by these companies our department will be able to capture digital video footage of our response to actual fires and emergencies, enabling us to quickly analyze and learn from critical aspects of individual operations," said Nicolas Scoppetta, New York City Fire Commissioner.