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The Fire Services Take: Winter 2022
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The Fire Service Take with Gary McCarraher
Lessons from a wildfire case study
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Last May, I told you about the launch of the FirstNet Authority’s wildfire case study. Today, I’m going to update you on what that case study found.
The growing intensity of wildfire season
Wildfires are starting earlier, blazing stronger, and burning more acreage than in the past. Wildfire season used to be contained to four months from late summer through the end of fall. Now wildfires blaze throughout six or more months of the year.
This growing intensity is one reason the FirstNet Authority launched a wildfire case study in advance of the 2021 wildfire season. We want to understand how FirstNet can support firefighters battling the increase in wildland fires. The findings will guide our support for wildland fire response.
Understanding how FirstNet is used during wildfires
As part of the case study, we spoke to multiple wildland firefighters and agencies about their experiences in using public safety broadband for battling wildfires.
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.
The study is helping us at the FirstNet Authority understand how FirstNet can best support wildfire response in future seasons. Fire personnel shared the lessons they’ve learned in using public safety broadband in fighting wildfires. This type of feedback is integral to the work we do at the FirstNet Authority. These insights ensure public safety’s voice is represented in the evolution of FirstNet.
Deployables are a critical resource
Many wildland firefighters reported that deployables are an important tool in responding to wildfires. We have seen tremendous use of the FirstNet deployables fleet, with more than 800 solutions deployed to support emergency response in 2021.
The FirstNet fleet has 100+ deployable assets. This includes mobile cell sites, like SatCOLTS, that link to FirstNet via satellite, do not rely on commercial power availability, and provide similar capabilities and connectivity as a cell tower.
FirstNet deployables can boost coverage to support wildfire incident command or increase capacity at base camps. In certain cases, fire personnel have sent FirstNet deployables near the fire line to keep frontline responders connected to the data they need to battle the blaze.
FirstNet deployables are unique because only FirstNet subscribers can request them. They are dedicated to emergency response and connect to FirstNet’s Band 14, the spectrum dedicated for public safety’s use. First responders get prioritized access to Band 14 as well as all of AT&T’s LTE.
Our deployable factsheet has tips for requesting a deployable for disasters or events.
Agile solutions needed on the fire line
While deployables have proven critical at base camp and some agencies have managed to send deployables to the frontline, many agencies noted they need more flexible options for boosting coverage during the different phases of battling a wildfire.
As a wildfire spreads and changes direction, firefighters’ coverage needs change too. And putting a large deployable on the fire line requires rigorous contingency planning in the event wildfire threatens the asset. Wildland firefighters identified a need for easily-transportable deployables that can move as the fire line moves.
A new technology called Compact Rapid Deployables was rolled out in 2021 to allow public safety to “take the network with them” on short notice. This smaller mobile cell site unit can be customer-owned and activated by a single person within a matter of minutes, providing coverage virtually anytime and anywhere. The unit is small enough to be transported using a regular trailer hitch or flown into a remote location on a helicopter. And because compact rapid deployables can last up to 60 hours before needing to be refueled, they are valuable assets for firefighters battling wildfires in difficult terrain.
More training opportunities
Wildland firefighters in the study also expressed a desire for more training opportunities to learn how to use FirstNet services. With FirstNet, first responders have access to a unique ecosystem of devices, apps, deployables, and capabilities tailored to the needs of public safety operations.
At the FirstNet Authority, we engage with public safety agencies to help them get the most benefit from their network. Through pre-incident planning and after action reviews, trainings, and other engagements, the FirstNet Authority can help facilitate greater coordination and work through operational challenges for wildland firefighters in the field.
Your experience
Our staff includes a team of public safety advisors whose job is to listen to, educate, inform, and advance the needs of public safety. To learn about how FirstNet can support your fire operations, you can contact your public safety advisor, send me an email, or talk to me or one of my colleagues at these events:
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We’re celebrating 10 years of FirstNet! The legislation that established the FirstNet Authority and FirstNet was signed into law on February 22, 2012. We made a promise to the public safety community to create a nationwide public safety broadband network. Today we’re delivering on that promise.
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Watch this video to see how the public safety community made FirstNet a reality. Learn about the past decade of massive progress for public safety communications and how the first nationwide public safety broadband network was built and deployed
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Want to see FirstNet’s unique features in action? Check out these live demos of Z-axis for finding the vertical location of responders and priority and preemption for keeping first responders connected during network congestion.
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Hear stories from public safety leaders in our series From the Command Center. In the first installment, Pete Landon, Director of Homeland Security and Chief of Staff for the Governor of Maryland, talks about advancing public safety communications and tools to first responders.
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New FirstNet Authority Board Chair Steve Benjamin, who is the former mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, joins our podcast to talk about his experience supporting public safety services at the city and state levels as a government leader and his goals for the future of FirstNet.
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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.*
Fire departments in the United States are bringing in the first-ever all-electric fire trucks. Beyond the environmental benefits, the lack of noise from electric fire trucks allows for smoother and clearer communication among firefighters. Fire departments in Los Angeles, California, and Mesa, Arizona, are two of the first fire departments to test out the new apparatuses.
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North Carolina’s first responders face a variety of challenges with “communication deserts” throughout the state, especially in rural areas. With a new FirstNet cell tower in Wayne County, first responders will have the coverage they need for emergencies and daily activities.
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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: North Carolina’s first responders face a variety of challenges with “communication deserts” throughout the state, especially in rural areas. With a new FirstNet cell tower in Wayne County, first responders will have the coverage they need for emergencies and daily activities.
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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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