what3words increasingly used for emergency rescues in California, following accelerated momentum across the US
In a testament to its growing effectiveness for emergencies, innovative location technology, what3words, is now being increasingly used by California Public Safety Agencies to help save time, resources and lives. This momentum builds upon a strong foundation of adoption across the United States, highlighting the practical value of this technology in critical situations.
Accelerating Adoption by California Emergency Services
The adoption of what3words by emergency service agencies across California is rapidly increasing. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) stands at the forefront, having officially integrated what3words into its Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system in 2021 [ 3] . A successful six-month pilot program saw LAFD utilize the system approximately 300 times, including for locating lost hikers and a small airplane crash [ 2] . Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas emphasized the technology’s importance, stating: “When seconds matter, this innovative tool has proven to be a beneficial resource for firefighting and rescue operations” [ 3] .
The momentum extends beyond Los Angeles, with both the Hayward Police and Fire Departments also officially adopting what3words [ 4] . Similar to LAFD, Hayward has integrated the technology into its CAD system, enabling dispatchers to pinpoint caller locations and share them with responding units [ 5] . Dispatchers can also send a text message link to obtain a caller’s what3words address. Hayward Communications Operators regularly use what3words in real-life emergencies, including locating a distressed individual experiencing a medical emergency [ 5] .
Recognizing the challenges of managing vast natural landscapes, California State Parks partnered with what3words in 2023 [ 7] . This integration equips dispatchers with the ability to accurately locate visitors in need of assistance using what3words addresses. Beyond emergencies, State Parks utilizes the technology for non-emergencies, such as providing directions to specific locations within parks [ 6] . what3words addresses are also integrated into the official CA State Parks app, OuterSpatial, for over 8,000 points of interest [ 7] .
Oceanside Police Department and Santa Cruz Regional 911 are among listed users of what3words in the United States [ 8] . Their inclusion signifies the growing recognition and adoption of this technology across various emergency service sectors in California. Furthermore, what3words’ integration with RapidSOS makes the system accessible to over 4,800 Emergency Communications Centers across the US, suggesting even wider use within California [ 8] .
Real-Life Rescues Demonstrate Effectiveness
The effectiveness of what3words is powerfully illustrated by real-life rescue stories. In February 2025, Riverside Firefighters successfully rescued two men and two dogs trapped by the rising Santa Ana River. Fire crews used what3words in conjunction with GIS technology to pinpoint their precise location and navigate to the scene [ 12] . Despite challenging conditions, they successfully located and rescued the individuals using a boat [ 9, 10, 11] . This story highlights the critical role of what3words in enhancing emergency response in challenging environments – which is why each fire engine has a cellphone with the app downloaded.
Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst, the incident commander, commented: “We get a lot of people who come to Mount Rubidoux who get exhausted, who don’t have water with them, they don’t realize that it’s that far of a hike, and we’ll use what3words to find the patient.” He added: “It’s made us more efficient in our response.” [ 12]
In February 2025, a female hiker was also rescued after becoming lost on Cascade Canyon, in the Mount Baldy area, thanks to a coordinated effort by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department and San Bernardino County Fire [ 17] . The Sheriff’s Office dispatchers pinpointed exactly where help was needed using a what3words address, which allowed the helicopter to locate her within 10 minutes [ 17] . The hiker was found at a 4,700ft level, extremely cold, lost, and out of food and water. A San Bernardino County Fire paramedic was lowered down to the hiker, placed her in a HotSeat, and hoisted her off the mountain to get treatment [ 17] . The accuracy and ease of communicating what3words addresses make it a valuable tool for rescue teams, especially in areas with limited connectivity, such as mountains, where the app’s offline compass mode can be crucial [ 18] .
National Momentum and Wider California Use
The adoption of what3words extends beyond California, with a growing number of public safety teams across the United States confirming its use including:
- Austin Police and Fire Departments
- Austin-Travis County EMS
- Dallas Police Department
- Palm Beach County 911
- Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
- Baldwin County 911 and many more [ 8] .
This national trend, supported by integrations with platforms like RapidSOS, underscores the widespread recognition of the benefits of precise what3words addresses in emergencies. Real-life rescues in other states, such as a lost hiker located in Virginia’s Terrapin Mountains [ 14] and missing teenagers found in Tennessee [ 20] , further demonstrate the technology’s impact nationwide.
In California, what3words is also being adopted in other sectors. LAFC and BMO Stadium have integrated what3words into their digital platforms to enhance the guest experience [ 22, 23] . By listing what3words addresses to key locations within and around the stadium, such as entrances and the team store, LAFC is making navigation and accessibility easier for visitors. LAFC Chief Technology Officer Christian Lau stated: “We are proud that LAFC is now the first major league professional sports team in the United States to integrate what3words into our digital ecosystem… This partnership reinforces the Club’s commitment to delivering a cutting-edge, best-in-class guest experience for all guests – including those with accessibility challenges” [ 24] . This adoption highlights the versatility of what3words beyond emergency services.
Conclusion
The increasing adoption of what3words by California Emergency Services and its successful use in real-life rescues demonstrate the significant momentum of this innovative location technology. From major metropolitan fire departments to state parks and even sports venues, what3words is proving to be a valuable tool for enhancing safety and improving navigation across the state. As its use continues to grow, what3words holds the potential to further revolutionize emergency response and location communication in California and beyond. Individuals are encouraged to download the what3words app and familiarize themselves with its functionality, positioning it as a valuable tool for personal safety and emergency preparedness in an increasingly complex world.
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About what3words:
Co-founded in London in 2013 by Chris Sheldrick, what3words is a simple way to talk about precise locations. A what3words address is a human-friendly way to share very precise locations with other people, or to input them into platforms and machines such as ride-hailing apps or e-commerce checkouts and car navigation systems. It is optimised for voice input and contains built-in error prevention to immediately identify and correct input mistakes.
The free what3words app, available for iOS and Android , and the enables people to find, share and navigate to what3words addresses in more than 60 languages to date. Millions of what3words addresses are in use around the world, with thousands of businesses using them to save money, be more efficient and provide a better customer experience. what3words is easily integrated into apps, platforms and websites. Products are available for free or for a nominal fee for qualifying NGOs. Its partners include Jaguar Land Rover, Subaru, Lamborghini, DPD, DHL, Yodel and the AA. what3words has proved to be a critical application for emergency services around the world, helping save time and resources when it matters most.
what3words has a team of over 100 people, across offices in the UK, Germany, Vietnam, Trinidad & Tobago and Mongolia. The company has raised over £100 million in capital from investors such as Intel, Ingka (Ikea), Mercedes-Benz, Aramex, Deutsche Bahn, Subaru and Sony Innovation Fund.
Relevant links
[1] what3words /// The simplest way to talk about location, https://what3words.com/
[2] Los Angeles Fire Department partners with what3words to save lives, https://what3words.com/news/general/los-angeles-fire-department-partners-with-what3words-to-save-lives
[3] LAFD Officially Adopts what3words | Los Angeles Fire Department, https://lafd.org/news/lafd-officially-adopts-what3words
[4] What 3 Words | City of Hayward – Official website, http://www.hayward-ca.gov/police-department/public-services/what-3-words
[5] Hayward Police and Fire Departments adopt What3Words application as locating tool during emergencies, https://hayward-ca.gov/sites/default/files/press-releases/Press-Release-What-Three-Words%20%282%29.pdf
[6] How 3 words could save your life while hiking – NBC Los Angeles, https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california-news/hiking-cailfornia-state-parks-what3words/3183200/
[7] What3words – California State Parks, https://parks.ca.gov/what3words
[8] Three words to tell US public safety teams exactly where you are – What3Words, https://what3words.com/news/emergency/three-words-to-tell-us-public-safety-teams-exactly-where-you-are
[9] RIVERSIDE: 2 MEN & 2 DOGS, SWIFT WATER RESCUE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejPIsYI9cn8
[10] Water Rescue 2/13 River Bottom Incident, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKlYZBMR16c
[11] Mission Incident | Riverside Fire Department, https://riversideca.gov/fire/incident/mission-incident-6
[12] Riverside Firefighters Rescue Two Men, Two Dogs from SA River Bottom – MyNewsLA.com, https://mynewsla.com/business/2025/02/14/riverside-firefighters-rescue-two-men-two-dogs-from-sa-river-bottom/
[13] Silicon Valley, https://www.siliconvalley.com/2022/03/28/3-words-that-could-save-a-lost-hikers-life/
[14] Rescuers turn to 3 words to find lost hikers – Cardinal News, https://cardinalnews.org/2024/05/07/rescuers-turn-to-3-words-to-find-lost-hikers/
[15] APP OF THE DAY: ‘What3Words’ app helping emergency crews lost hikers share locations with 3 short, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVnz58ueJ9w
[16] First responders using ‘what3words’ app to help locate lost hikers, https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2024/05/09/first-responders-using-what3words-app-to-help-locate-lost-hikers/
[17] SBCSD Aviation Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/reel/1331422834823461
[18] Mountain Search and Rescue using what3words to locate people, https://what3words.com/news/emergency/a-new-addition-to-the-mountain-search-and-rescue-toolkit
[19] News | what3words, https://what3words.com/en/news
[20] Help 911 know exactly where, https://what3words.com/business/know-exactly-where-us
[21] This App Helped Firefighters Find Missing Teen Girls in Tennessee — What Families Should Know, https://people.com/human-interest/what3words-app-helps-firefighters-find-missing-teens-in-tennessee/
[22] Stadium | LAFC.com – Los Angeles Football Club, https://www.lafc.com/stadium/what3words
[23] BMO Stadium magical guest experience tech – Coliseum, https://www.coliseum-online.com/bmo-stadium-magical-guest-experience-tech/
[24] LAFC Helps Guests Maximize Matchday With What3Words Location Technology, https://www.lafc.com/news/lafc-helps-guests-maximize-matchday-with-what3words-location-technology