Northwest Fire welcomes E.M.I.L.Y to rescue team

CREATED Jun. 16, 2012 - UPDATED: Jun. 18, 2012

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  • New remote controlled lifesaving boat will revolutionize swift water rescues this monsoon season. Video by kgun9.com

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  • It rained a lot here by Casino Del Sol this is In my backyard ...

  • It rained a lot here by Casino Del Sol this is In my backyard ...

  • Swift Water Rescue at Bopp & San Joaqin. Female driver stuck in wash...

  • The flooded road at Speedway east of Houghton.

  • This is a picture of Madera Canyon, from our Quail Creek home, with the clouds going over the top and sliding down our side, forming a toupee.

  • The wildflowers are going crazy up on the mountain. With all the rains, the road up is literally lined with flowers.

  • This is a picture I took when I was on my vacation, weather looks great!

  • This morning (09/10/12) Storm at Sabino Canyon

  • In El Centro, California. At around 7:15-7:20pm on Sunday September 9th, 2012. My family and I had to pull over coming back from San Diego to come home to Tucson because of this. It lasted for about 30-45min then we continued on. It was crazy!

  • Flooded back patio, on North Mallard, Sierra Vista, Chica isn't sure what to think about the flooded patio, 1.3 inches in about 45 minutes, shortly after lunch 9/10/12.

  • Sunset and rain, by David Grinney 8-14-12

  • Rain over Sabino Canyon by David Grinney, 8-14-12

  • Fabulous sunset by David Grinney, 8-14-12

  • Fabulous capture of lightening during the storm that came through on August 6th, 2012

  • Lightening caught on camera August 6th

  • Lightening caught on camera August 6th

  • Lightening caught on camera August 6th

  • Lightening during the storm that swept through on August 6th.

  • The NW storm, rain and lightning 8-6-12

  • The NW storm, rain and lightning 8-6-12

  • The NW storm, rain and lightning 8-6-12

  • The NW storm, rain and lightning 8-6-12

  • The NW storm, rain and lightning 8-6-12

  • The wash at Thornydale and Costco Drive - taken at 5 pm

  • Swift water rescue after Silverbell Road rips open! It was right out of a Hollywood movie. That's how rescue crews describe the scene of a swift water rescue after raging floodwaters from Sunday's Monsoon caused a portion of Silverbell Road to rip open.

  • Swift water rescue after Silverbell Road rips open! It was right out of a Hollywood movie. That's how rescue crews describe the scene of a swift water rescue after raging floodwaters from Sunday's Monsoon caused a portion of Silverbell Road to rip open.

  • Swift water rescue after Silverbell Road rips open! It was right out of a Hollywood movie. That's how rescue crews describe the scene of a swift water rescue after raging floodwaters from Sunday's Monsoon caused a portion of Silverbell Road to rip open.

  • River running over Valley View Rd near Sunrise

  • River running over Valley View Rd near Sunrise

  • Sabino Creek at 4:25 PM this afternoon from the Tanque Verde Wash.

  • W. Anthony Dr in Picture Rocks

  • North side, near CDO HS

  • N. Como Dr. near Moore Rd.

  • Images from today's storms. The running wash is the Rillito River Wash. Enjoy!!

  • Images from today's storms. The running wash is the Rillito River Wash. Enjoy!!

  • Images from today's storms. The running wash is the Rillito River Wash. Enjoy!!

  • Images from today's storms. The running wash is the Rillito River Wash. Enjoy!!

  • We got 2.5" of rain in 1.5 hours, here next to Ventanna Vista Elementary school at Sunrise and Kolb!

  • We got 2.5" of rain in 1.5 hours, here next to Ventanna Vista Elementary school at Sunrise and Kolb!

  • Lightening Strikes! Taken during the Monsoon on Monday night by David Rich Jr.

  • OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

  • Courtesy of Mandy Nagore

  • Courtesy of Patti Brydon

  • Courtesy of Margie Wrye

  • Courtesy of Frank Maynes

  • Amanda Hill sent this photo of Elianna "playing in the rain."

  • Rainbow over the Catalina Mountains. Courtesy of Bob Ciaciuch.

  • Photo courtesy of the Tapia family.

  • Photo courtesy of Heather Parra.

  • KGUN9 viewer Brianna Romero took this photo of the skyline while she was at the playground with her kids.

  • That's a lot of rain! Gabrielle Varvel sent this photo taken from Houghton and Old Spanish Trail.

  • Ryan Madar took this photo at The Gold Club at Vistoso in Oro Valley. Rain on the 9th green.

  • Burley Packwood took this photo of a rainbow in Green Valley, Ariz.

  • Jared Grinney took this photo on his cell phone in Scottsdale as the Haboob was moving in.

  • Courtesy of Pete Gregoire

  • Courtesy of Pete Gregoire

  • Pete Gregoire got amazing shots of the lightning near Saguaro National Monument.

  • Ashley Coalter took this photo on the way to Mt. Lemmon.

  • Monsoon clouds. Photo courtesy of Tammy Garcia.

  • Mindy Bailey took this photo at La Cholla and River. She wasn't even trying to get the lightning!

  • Scott Vaughan took this photo of the sunset with some Monsoon rain in the background.

  • Photo courtesy of Sean Hughes.

  • Rain and lightning. Photo courtesy of Ernie Strong

  • Great lightning picture taken by Michael King.

  • Chris Burkhart ran into a little bit of flooding.

  • Photo courtesy of Becki Gastelum

  • Photo courtesy of Becki Gastelum

  • Photo courtesy of Britney Barr

  • Photo courtesy of Chris Burkhart

  • Photo courtesy of Jeff Shope

  • Roger Guerette Jr. took this photo while he was fishing at the lake.

  • Taken near the Corona De Tucson Fire Department. Photo by David Ellis.

  • Taken from Vail, looking toward Tucson. Photo by Reena Giola

  • Missy Lopez took this photo of a downed tree near Curtis Road.

  • Photo courtesy of Tomas Martinez.

  • Photo courtesy of Tamara Pruessner

  • Photo by Melissa Wiseman

  • Photo by Diana Contreras-Huerta

  • Photo by Diana Contreras-Huerta

  • Carrie Ross took this photo on August 13, facing the Catalina Mountains from the Golf Links area.

  • Photo taken by Isaac Entrican on the bridge on La Canada between Hardy and Lambert.

Reporter: Marcelino Benito

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - The official start of monsoon season means firefighters will be busier with more swift water rescues, but this summer Northwest Fire has added a new tool to save people from fast moving water.

Her name is EMILY. She's faster, lighter and can rescue up to six people at a time.

"EMILY is Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard," said Northwest Fire engineer Gibran Merry. "It's a remote controlled boat with a buoy on it."

EMILY joined the Northwest Fire team just a few weeks ago. She comes with a lot of perks. The little robot can travel up to 40 miles per hour in rough currents. She only weighs 25 pounds and can be a flotation device for up to six people. Best of all it's remote controlled, so there's no need to hop in the water.

"It allows us to access our patient faster without putting anyone in danger," said Merry.

EMILY can get you faster than a real live swimmer. It was developed in California and tested in rip currents in the Pacific Ocean. Northwest Fire says it will be a handy tool this monsoon season.

"We're going to have to practice with the device and get familiar with it," he said. "We'll develop rescue plans so when it's put into service we use it efficiently."

Green Valley Fire also has an EMILY for use by their technical rescue team.