Fire Service
Northern Minnesota’s first responders got a major boost in their wireless communications thanks to the FirstNet network expansion currently underway by AT&T.
FirstNet Authority Senior Fire Services Advisor Gary McCarraher spent more than 45 years in fire and EMS, serving as fire chief of three departments. At the FirstNet Authority, he works with fire services personnel to understand the needs of firefighters and how FirstNet can provide greater situational awareness when responding to wildfires and urban fires.
The Cameron Peak Fire was the largest wildland fire in Colorado’s history. Don Patterson, a firefighter and communications expert, deployed to the fire knowing that broadband communications would play a huge role, particularly with the threat of COVID-19. Deployables and other advanced technologies helped everyone communicate — from incident command at the base camp to frontline firefighters.
After testing Band 14 capabilities at the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships, public safety agencies in Eagle County, Colorado, began adopting FirstNet. Priority, preemption, coverage, and capacity have benefited first responders in the area while responding to events such as major fires and large concerts.
The Cameron Peak Fire burned nearly 209,000 acres (326 square miles) in Colorado in late 2020, making it the largest wildfire in state history. As firefighters fought the blaze, FirstNet deployables and devices allowed them to access apps and resources that made their jobs easier and kept them connected to Incident Command and their families back home.
When Lieutenant LeRoy Sisley of the Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team #10 in Washington arrived on the Bertschi Road Fire in Glenwood, he quickly noticed cell service was spotty and limited. Within three hours of submitting a request to FirstNet, a deployable network asset arrived on scene. This deployable provided much needed coverage to the firefighters responding to the wildfire, allowing them to check weather reports, order supplies and equipment, and coordinate with other teams.
Situational awareness is crucial to firefighters responding to wildfires. Mobile broadband – like FirstNet – enables firefighters to access apps that provide up-to-date maps and videos to make operational decisions in the field. Cellular broadband also frees up traffic from land mobile radio systems, keeping radios open for other critical incidents.
When heavy rain caused two dams to breach in Midland, Michigan, over 10,000 residents were forced to evacuate their homes. The Midland Fire Department requested statewide assistance, and the Oakland Communications Support Team answered the call. Using a FirstNet deployable and devices, first responders were able to access forms, maps, and other key information as they conducted damage assessment and cleanup.
When a wildfire broke out near Glenwood, Washington, first responders quickly discovered the remote area had nearly no cell service. Needing to communicate with one another as well as check weather reports and order additional supplies, the incident management team requested a FirstNet deployable asset. Within hours, the firefighters were connected with the situational awareness they needed.
The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) is a national association representing all EMS practitioners, including paramedics, EMTs, and other emergency response personnel. As a member of the FirstNet Authority’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, NAEMT provides input on issues that are essential to emergency medical technicians.
When emergencies happen, first responders need to be able to quickly send and receive vital information. For EMS responders, the ability to share data with the hospital helps save time – and potentially lives. Two new FirstNet cell sites in southern Pennsylvania are bringing enhanced coverage and connectivity to public safety, allowing them to send data reliably and securely.
America’s first responders are at the heart of the FirstNet Authority’s mission. Many FirstNet Authority staff are either current or former public safety officials. Collectively, they have deep experience in all public safety disciplines. We celebrate all first responders on Honoring the Nation's First Responders Day, and we appreciate their service every day of the year.
The FirstNet network core provides first responders with a foundation for advancing their use of mobile broadband with mission critical features they never had before. The FirstNet core network is based on 4G LTE technology. The next generation of cellular technology, 5G, is on the horizon and in the process of being implemented around the world by more than 200 cellular operators. In addition to greater device capacity, the 5G architecture breaks the core into many smaller pieces and locates them all over the network. This creates increased resiliency, more redundancy, improved security and puts users physically closer to where the networks higher order computing takes place.
In Chesapeake, Virginia, the local fire department is exploring ways to manage response for non-emergent care. The Chesapeake Fire Department launched a Mobile Integrated Healthcare program to provide residents with effective access to healthcare. With FirstNet, they are able to access real-time data in the field and coordinate with high-risk patients throughout the community.