Fire Service

The Amherst Fire Department in Massachusetts is transforming the city’s public safety communications with broadband technology. Chief Lindsay Stromgren details the college town’s journey from traditional radio systems to the advanced functionalities of push-to-talk on FirstNet.

The First Responder Network Authority presented the Patriot Award to six distinguished leaders in public safety, recognizing their innovative use of broadband technologies to protect and safeguard their communities.

As Fire Chief of San Bernardino County, one of the top three disaster counties in United States, Dan Munsey knows that reliable connectivity is the foundation of modern firefighting. He details how the county uses FirstNet for data transmission, dual connectivity, maintaining a common operating picture, and staying connected throughout diverse terrain and features. Chief Munsey was a recipient of the 2024 Patriot Award.

Home to multiple U.S. Army commands, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, two federal law enforcement agencies, and even a 35,000-acre wildlife refuge, Redstone Arsenal requires seamless collaboration from its public safety community. Hear from Deputy Fire Chief Robert Simmons and Operations Specialist Marcel Chevalier of Redstone Arsenal Fire and Emergency Services, as they discuss how FirstNet keeps the base communicating. Explore how FirstNet supports federal operations at: FirstNet.Gov/Federal

At Redstone Arsenal military base, secure lines of communication between federal partners are critical. Watch Operations Specialist Marcel Chevalier and Deputy Fire Chief Robert Simmons of Redstone Arsenal as they break down how FirstNet supports streamlined emergency communications on the military installation. Explore how FirstNet supports federal operations at: FirstNet.Gov/Federal

Redstone Arsenal is home to multiple U.S. Army commands, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, 2 federal law enforcement agencies, and even a 35,000-acre wildlife refuge. When there’s an emergency, it is critical that first responders on base can communicate across agencies, as well as with their counterparts from the surrounding area. They look to FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband network, to ensure seamless communication during complex federal public safety operations.

Sudden cardiac events are the top cause of firefighter death. The District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department is testing a wearable device to track the cardiac health of its training class. Deputy Fire Chief Shawn talks about what they are learning from the pilot program and what they hope to achieve.

AT&T announced a new FirstNet cell site during a special event in Hagerstown, Maryland that featured federal and county officials, local public safety personnel, business leaders, and representatives from AT&T. This new site is part of AT&T and the FirstNet Authority’s 10-year, $8+ billion investment commitment into the FirstNet network – including launching 1,000 new cell sites to further expand the reach of public safety’s dedicated Band 14 spectrum across the country by the end of 2025.

Biometrics and wearables are ushering in a new wave of public safety technologies. These innovations have the potential to greatly improve the health and safety of firefighters — and get us closer to the goal of zero deaths or injuries.

FirstNet provides first responders with reliable and secure communications. The Clark County Fire Department in Las Vegas, Nevada relies on FirstNet for routine service calls, as well as major events such as the Big Game, the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the Electric Daisy Carnival.

Volunteer firefighters are the heart of our nation’s fire services community. Volunteer agencies are often smaller, rural, and have fewer resources. FirstNet offers several ways that help volunteer agencies level the playing field, including the Toms River Fire Department in New Jersey and the San Marcos Pass Volunteer Fire Department in California.

The First Responder Network Authority presented the Patriot Award to five leaders in public safety, recognizing their leadership in using FirstNet to make communities safer.

Chief Christopher Lombard was awarded the Chief Harlin R. McEwen Public Safety Broadband Communications Award today for his remarkable leadership and extensive contributions to public safety broadband communications.

Division Chief Kara Gerczynski of the Elizabeth Fire Protection District details the communication challenges that come with serving a remote region of Colorado. Discover how FirstNet has improved connectivity and aided first responders across this rural community. Read more about FirstNet in Colorado at FirstNet.gov/Colorado

Elizabeth, Colorado, is a rural area located in one of the state’s fastest-growing counties. To support communications and connect responders to the tools they need in the field, the Elizabeth Fire Protection District turned to FirstNet.

Las Vegas public safety agencies spent months planning for the first-ever Formula 1 Grand Prix race and hosting football’s biggest game of the year. As part of their preparations, the Clark County Fire Department and other Las Vegas public safety agencies worked with the FirstNet Authority’s Network Experience Engagement Program. Through a collaborative planning process, FirstNet ensured first responders were prepared for these major planned events, as well as an unexpected avalanche just north of the city.

A firefighter’s commitment to selflessness serves as a shining example of the best of humanity. Expressing appreciation for their everyday heroism is not only about recognizing their courageous acts, but also acknowledging the personal sacrifices they make to protect their communities. In recognition of International Firefighters’ Day, Chief Loy Senter of Chesterfield County Fire and EMS in Virginia discusses his 45-year career in the fire service and honors the extraordinary work of firefighters around the world.

Firefighters need specialized communication tools when battling wildland fires, especially when they threaten wildland urban interfaces. FirstNet was designed for public safety operations and has unique tools for fighting fires in the wildland urban interface, including versatile deployables and high-power user equipment.

With push-to-talk, the press of a button instantly connects firefighters with dispatch and other first responders, making it an invaluable communications tool. With firefighters increasingly needing easy access to multimedia data on the job, push-to-talk over FirstNet can be a gamechanger. It offers cost savings and added capabilities compared to only using radios.

The FirstNet Authority works hand in hand with public safety to collect feedback on the network and their communications needs. First responders gathered for the FirstNet Users Summit in Sacramento, California to share their real-world experience using FirstNet. The FirstNet Authority uses public safety’s insights to ensure the network offers the right tools and services to meet their technical and operational needs.