Fire Service
The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Public Safety Communications Research Division announced the winners of its Haptic Interfaces for Public Safety Challenge, a contest aimed to leverage haptic technologies to enhance first responder operations.
Every summer, tens of thousands of boating enthusiasts descend on Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri for one of the most popular powerboat racing events in the nation. For the 2019 Lake Race, local public safety agencies relied on FirstNet to support their communication and data needs.
Coders and developers in Seattle participated in the Tech to Protect Challenge, sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and supported by the FirstNet Authority, to develop innovative technologies to help first responders
The Seattle Fire Department experienced the benefits of FirstNet during the SeaFair 2019 festival. Despite the more than 350,000 people in attendance, firefighters and paramedics were able to communicate important safety information during the event.
In January 2019, a gas outage in Newport County, Rhode Island left over 7,100 residents without heat in frigid temperatures. Ruggedized FirstNet devices, WiFi hotspots, and GIS mapping software helped the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and local public safety agencies ensure residents were safe.
The FirstNet Authority has always relied on input and feedback from public safety, and with the release of the Roadmap, the FirstNet Authority is continuing this engagement with stakeholders in a new, targeted manner. David Buchanan, FirstNet Authority Executive Director of Public Safety, describes this new approach and how it will help inform the evolution and improvement of the network.
The Indian River Volunteer Fire Department is replacing its cell tower with a new tower that will bring first responders in Sussex County, Delaware, enhanced coverage and connection through FirstNet.
The Seattle Fire Department is equipping firefighters and paramedics with access to FirstNet on smartphones and rig apparatus, keeping them connected through everyday emergencies and natural disasters.
The New Hampshire Department of Public Safety’s Office of Interoperability hosted the FirstNet Authority for two User Forums – for New Hampshire and for Region I states. Public safety officials from across the region gathered to learn more about the FirstNet Authority Roadmap and had the opportunity to explore some FirstNet dedicated assets for first responders.
Tech to Protect, NIST PSCR’s national innovative challenge, introduces coding contests designed to foster communications technology solutions that will aid emergency responders in serving and protecting communities nationwide. Participants will compete for cash prizes from a pool of $2.2 million. The FirstNet Authority is pleased to have technical subject matter experts from our organization leading three contests.
Southern Platte Fire District in Missouri uses FirstNet and its push-to-talk capabilities to enhance daily operations.
The Columbia Fire Department is one of several city agencies joining FirstNet. This is the largest deployment of FirstNet in the state of South Carolina.