Fire Service

At the Texas A&M University Internet2 Technology Evaluation Center’s 2019 Winter Institute Workshop and Exercise, first responders trained on how to respond during an earthquake. FirstNet was used to enhance operational communications during a simulated natural disaster.

During the month of May, the FirstNet Authority is recognizing and celebrating first responders for the critical, lifesaving work they perform year-round.

The aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City highlighted the critical need for dependable communications among first responders during emergencies and disasters.

Police cars and firetrucks in Shreveport, Louisiana, were outfitted with new modems that are connected to FirstNet. With this new in-vehicle technology, first responders will have access to a reliable network connection that is faster and more efficient. 

During the 2018 college basketball championship in San Antonio, the Southwest Texas Fusion Center used FirstNet to monitor live data coming from officers in the field and security cameras. With a reliable network connection, first responders were able to quickly and securely send data and respond to incidents.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security has relied on FirstNet for a variety of incidents and emergencies, from Hurricane Michael to a lost hiker to the 2019 Super Bowl. With priority and preemption on the FirstNet network and access to deployable assets such as SatCOLTs (satellite cells on light trucks) and COWs (cells on wheels), first responders have reliable connection when and where they need it. 

FirstNet Authority Board Member and Fire Chief for the Southern Platte Fire Protection District (MO) Richard Carrizzo shares his thoughts on FirstNet, the nation's only broadband network dedicated

Public safety communications in Baltimore County got a critical upgrade with the launch of a new, purpose-built cell site. The site – located on Hazelwood Avenue – is part of Maryland’s FirstNet build, which is bringing increased coverage and capacity to first responders across the state.

San Bernardino County’s Assistant Fire Chief Dan Munsey reflects on emerging technologies, such as drones and wearables, and how they will transform fire service operations in the years to come.

In this episode of Public Safety First, FirstNet’s Senior EMS Advisor Brent Williams chats with Plain Township (OH) Assistant Fire Chief Jack Rupp and Dr. Paul Zeeb, EMS Medical Director for Ohio’s Metropolitan Emergency Consortium Communications (MECC), at the 2018 EMS World Expo. Together, they reflect on how FirstNet will enable emerging technology in the world of EMS.

In our latest episode of Public Safety First, host Dave Buchanan sits down with representatives of the FirstNet Authority Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) Executive Committee (EC) to discuss how FirstNet is providing technological advancements, helping first responders look to improving the future of responding to incidents in Utah, Texas, Michigan, and Oregon.

Assistant Chief Rodney Reed of the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office (TX) touches on the County’s experience as an Early Builder, and now as a FirstNet subscriber, as well as Hurricane Harvey response, apps, and Real-Time Data

Deputy Chief Travis Hollis of the Rogers Fire Department (AR) speaks with guest host Michael Varney about why a city in “Tornado Alley” decided to transition to FirstNet and what first responders have experienced since adopting FirstNet. He also shares thoughts on the future of public safety communications and advanced technologies like the Internet of Life-Saving Things (IoLST).

Every summer, thousands of people travel to western Indiana for the Terre Haute airshow—a two-day event that features the Navy’s famous Blue Angels and other aircraft.

Edward Parkinson describes how he joined the Western Fire Chiefs Association and public safety officials for a site visit to the burn area of the Camp Fire in northern California. This trip was an opportunity for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) to learn about the public safety response to the fires that devastated Paradise, California—a town of 27,000 residents in the foothills East of Chico—directly from those fire chiefs and other first responders who were on the ground during the wildfire.

As a member of the fire service, you know having the right tools improves response. Increasingly, your department relies on mobile applications to provide computer-aided dispatching, mapping tools, patient care reporting, and hazardous materials information. Unfortunately, you also know that during emergencies or large events, congestion on commercial networks can make your vital data sources unreachable or unreliable. FirstNet provides a secure, reliable broadband connection so communications stay intact during your most critical moments.

Download a factsheet about FirstNet and the Fire Service. 

In 2018, the Life is Beautiful Music and Art Festival attracted 180,000 visitors from around the globe to an 18-block radius in Las Vegas, Nevada. To assist, 30 FirstNet Ready™ mobile devices were distributed to the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue team, including firefighters, EMS, and bomb squad personnel.

EMTs and paramedics, like those at the Plain Township Fire Department in Ohio, are using FirstNet to share data quickly during critical and routine incidents, ensuring patients receive the best quality care available. By offering first responders quick and reliable access to send and receive data, FirstNet is affording patients an opportunity to receive rapid and specialized advanced care in potentially life threatening situations.

The FirstNet network is enabling more resilient communities nationwide. With more than 5,250 public safety agencies using 425,000+ connections on FirstNet today, the network is helping first responders and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.