Apple‘s Emergency SOS feature was talked about quite a lot when it first came out. People wondered if there would be any practical applications for such a niche feature. Well, their concerns will definitely be hushed up once they find out that a group of Canadian residents in Missanabie, Ontario, recently utilized the iPhone 14’s SOS via satellite feature to call for emergency services. This is how they fought a raging forest fire on Dog Lake Island without any available cellular connection.
The fire was also taken care of by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry who arrived later
The new iPhone feature, incorporated in both the 14 and 14 Pro models, enables users to reach out to emergency services during connectivity blackouts. It is primarily used in emergency situations such as when an adventurer gets lost or injured. However, this event marked another practical application for the feature, demonstrating its utility in firefighting efforts.
The duo, Warren Thibodeau and Orel Crack, alongside local firefighter Craig Spooner, embarked on a daring expedition to combat the island fire. They navigated their way to the blazing island, tirelessly spraying water until the fire was quenched. Their valiant efforts were supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) who arrived promptly after being contacted through the satellite feature.
“The new GlobalStar emergency feature of the iPhone 14 facilitated our communication with the MNRF while approaching the burning island,” Eric Belanger, who photographed and shared the event, stated. The following day, a camper from Dog Lake Cottages and Campground, Marc G., confirmed that the MNRF were tidying up the aftermath.
The SOS via satellite feature becomes available when cellular signal is non-existent. The user interface prompts the user to point their iPhone toward a nearby satellite for a signal. This feature gathers data about the reported incident and shares the user’s location with emergency services. Despite the slow data transfer speeds and potential poor connection quality, it offers a lifeline in emergency situations, underlining the revolutionary impact of technology on public safety and disaster management.
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