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The 2024 Airport Fire burns just beyond the ridge of Southern California’s Santa Ana Mountains while heavy smoke fills the sky.

Advanced communications during wildfires: Lessons from the Orange County Airport Fire

Local, state, and federal agencies combatting the 2024 Airport Fire in the Santa Ana Mountains of California used technology to create a shared common operating picture across agencies. Throughout the Airport Fire, broadband connectivity underpinned nearly every operational decision. FirstNet devices, dual-SIM phones, deployable assets, satellite backhaul, and radios formed a layered communications stack designed for redundancy.

Staff, including representatives from the FirstNet Authority, support a San Francisco Bay area World Cup match at the Interoperable Communications Help Desk, U.S. fans celebrate with flags and smoke cannons during the World Cup.

First responder network helped power public safety communications at FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup 2026 was the largest single-sport event in history, bringing millions of fans and athletes to cities and towns across the United States this summer. While fans were focused on the action on the pitch, public safety professionals were working around the clock to ensure a safe and secure experience. Behind the scenes, the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network, or FirstNet, was helping first responders stay connected, so they could communicate, coordinate, and respond to whatever came their way during matches and other World Cup events.

A FirstNet portable cell site on the left; on the right, public safety officials manage operations during the FIFA World Cup in the Dallas joint operations center.

Safety is a team effort: Preparing for the World Cup in Dallas

As host to the most World Cup games in the United States, public safety officials in Dallas, Texas, had a significant amount of preparation to do. With Fourth of July festivities and potential hurricane evacuations also on the horizon, local leaders worked with FirstNet and other commercial carriers to ensure they had the connectivity and interoperability needed to communicate with local, state, federal, and international partners.

A police officer participating in the drone competition uses First-Person View (FPV) goggles and a remote control to maneuver a drone from a stairwell inside a Nashua middle school.

Eyes in the sky: Drones and FirstNet support public safety in New Hampshire

Law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire tested their piloting skills with FirstNet-connected drones. By bringing together departments of all sizes and experience, regional agencies exchanged best practices, enhanced operations, and strengthened partnerships.

Joey DelaCruz appears on right side, behind is demonstration given in the CNMI of public safety equipment running on FirstNet.

Communications resilience through partnership in the CNMI

In the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), public safety agencies built a communications system focused on redundancy, on-island assets, and trained local expertise. With a whole-community mindset, CNMI public safety agencies are using tools like FirstNet to help them be self-reliant, especially during the critical first 72 hours after disaster strikes.