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The Fire Services Take: Fall 2022
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The Fire Service Take with Gary McCarraher
How the FirstNet Authority supported the fire service in 2022
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As we near the end of 2022, I’d like to look back at the FirstNet Authority’s efforts to support the fire service’s use of public safety broadband. Highlights include a wildfire case study, a FirstNet training program, and our work to incorporate broadband into national safety standards.
Wildland fire case study
The FirstNet Authority published the results of a wildfire case study in the first quarter of 2022. The three goals of FirstNet Authority’s wildfire case study were to:
- Understand the operational challenges of responding to wildland fires
- Identify potential solutions for upcoming fire seasons
- Gain insights on how FirstNet is used during wildland fires
Fire personnel shared lessons learned while using public safety broadband to fight wildfires. These insights ensure public safety’s voice is represented in the evolution of FirstNet to meet the fire service’s needs, especially when it comes to fighting wildfires.
In response to what we have heard from the fire service, we are continuing to invest in the FirstNet deployable fleet, increasing it from 100 assets to over 150 assets over the past year. We’ve rolled out compact rapid deployables that provide similar functionality to a cell tower but are smaller and transportable, so they can move as the fire line moves. The findings from the wildfire case study are driving improvements to the network experience for future wildfire response operations.
Training program for FirstNet
This year, the FirstNet Authority debuted a training program for the fire service to help agencies understand how to best use FirstNet services. The curriculum was developed in the spirit of when you get a new tool, you should also get training on that tool.
The program is divided into modules that you can select based on your department’s needs:
- History of public safety communications
- Understanding LTE (Radio Access Network, Core, parameters, and call flow)
- Best uses of mobile data
- Overview of deployables, cross-jurisdictional systems, and local control
- Working with emergency communications centers
- FirstNet at fire stations and other fixed sites
- Administration of agency-issued devices and individually owned devices
The program is designed to train the trainer so participants can share the knowledge and skills with others. Because the FirstNet Authority is a government agency dedicated to helping first responder communications, this training program is free of charge. If you’re interested in the training program for your agency, let me know.
Incorporating broadband into national fire standards
This year, my FirstNet Authority colleagues and I have continued our work with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to incorporate broadband capabilities into national standards developed for the fire service.
NFPA establishes codes and standards to make firefighting safer. The FirstNet Authority participates in 15 NFPA committees to ensure broadband is considered in safety standards for voice communications, thermal imaging, personal alert systems, infrastructure, operations, and vehicles.
The FirstNet Authority also participates on a committee examining the protection of telecommunication facilities during fires. In the past, landline sites or radio towers were prioritized for protection. Today, broadband plays a vital role in wildfire response, so the protection of cell sites should be incorporated into the latest safety standards.
Let's engage in 2023
At the FirstNet Authority, our job as public safety advisors is to listen to, educate, inform, and advance the needs of public safety. The steps we’ve taken this year to support the fire service are the result of feedback and insights we’ve received from firefighters across the country.
I welcome the opportunity to engage with you in the coming year. Email me or find me or one of my colleagues at these events:
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Public safety’s network continues building momentum! FirstNet now has 4 million connections, 23,000+ public safety agencies served, 525+ FirstNet-ready devices, and more than 200 apps designed for first responders.
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FirstNet connectivity is taking drones in public safety operations to new heights. These “eyes in the sky” can provide better situational awareness and go places where humans can’t, from missing person searches to HAZMAT situations.
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At the Dover Motor Speedway, the Monster Mile is tough on drivers―and tough on communications during races and events like the Firefly Music Festival. FirstNet makes a difference, keeping more public safety agencies connected and communicating.
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Tech, Innovations, and Hot Topics in Fire Service
Read what we’ve been hearing from public safety in the field about trends and drivers for fire services and emergency communications.*
The North Penn Volunteer Fire Company in Pennsylvania has created an augmented reality experience to help families and kids get to know their local firefighters in their own homes using a smartphone or tablet. Firefighter familiarization is an important part of fire prevention.
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At over 200,000 acres, the Cameron Peak Fire is the largest wildland fire in Colorado history. As it burned in remote parts of the Rocky Mountains, FirstNet deployables, phones, and hotspots kept firefighters connected to the apps and tools they needed for situational awareness. With this added capability, responders received up-to-the-minute information that aided them in making informed decisions on the ground.
Watch the video |
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Gary McCarraher is the FirstNet Authority Fire Services Subject Matter Expert. Learn more about Gary or email him with your questions. |
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Top photo: FirstNet Authority staff at IAFC FRI.
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*FirstNet Authority may provide hyperlinks for third-party, non-governmental websites in order to offer additional context and added value for our users. FirstNet Authority does not endorse any product or service and is not responsible, nor can it guarantee the validity or timeliness of the content on hyperlinks outside of the federal government. In addition, users may wish to review privacy notices on non-government sites since their information collection practices may differ from ours.
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