Deployables

The fire service faces many different challenges—from structure fires and HAZMAT incidents to wildfires and road accidents. Firefighters need the right tools for the job at hand. FirstNet is a key tool to help firefighters communicate in all incidents. Learn five ways that FirstNet helps the fire service communicate.

When an eight-year-old boy went missing in Michigan's sprawling Porcupine Mountains, an extensive search and rescue operation was initiated. Darian Reed, President of Superior Search and Rescue, shared that broadband and data service support from FirstNet was pivotal in successfully and safely recovering the child.

The University of Virginia (UVA) Health system uses nearly 4,000 mobile devices, powered by FirstNet, to enhance care for patients. The leader of UVA Health’s Mobile Device Technologies program, Anthony Thompson, discusses the impact of FirstNet in healthcare and how it’s supporting telemedicine capabilities, translation services, and rural healthcare.

FirstNet is an important resource for emergency managers, whether during disasters, everyday operations, or large planned events. FirstNet’s unique public safety features help emergency managers be more prepared, increase situational awareness, and better track assets and people. For better response and operations, emergency managers should know these five things about FirstNet.

Want a sneak peek at five sessions public safety professionals won’t want to skip at 5x5: The Public Safety Innovative Summit? Join us in San Diego in June for a three-day event hosted by the FirstNet Authority and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Public Safety Communications Research Division. If you’re interested in learning more about current and upcoming trends in public safety technology, then 5x5 is the place you need to be.

In this video, FirstNet Authority Board Member Alexandra Fernandez Navarro explains the unique challenges of disaster response on island territories. When emergencies occur, these territories are often cut off by air and sea, which makes pre-planned emergency management crucial. Fernandez Navarro provides information about FirstNet's deployable resources, which can be pre-positioned to serve hard-to-reach areas. Learn more about the deployable program at FirstNet.gov/deployables.

Tens of thousands of runners and more than 100,000 spectators gather in Boulder, Colorado, every Memorial Day for the BOLDERBoulder, one of the largest 10-kilometer road races in the world. During the 2022 race, FirstNet enabled communications inside the emergency operations center, bringing critical connectivity to local first responders. Learn more at FirstNet.gov/Colorado.

Each year on Memorial Day, runners and spectators gather in Boulder, Colorado, for the BOLDERBoulder, one of the largest 10-kilometer races in the world. With more than 100,000 people in attendance, communication can be a challenge for local public safety. During the 2022 race, FirstNet helped connect responders on the race course and at the emergency operations center.

FirstNet Authority Board Member Alexandra Fernández Navarro’s extensive career in public service and telecommunications gives her a unique understanding of the interaction between utilities and telecommunication organizations during emergency response and recovery. We sat down with Ms. Fernández Navarro to discuss the unique communications challenges U.S. territories face, how FirstNet supports territories, and her career in public service.

When a rural fire in Brooks County, Texas engulfed 6,500 acres of land, the Falfurrias Fire Department faced significant communication and coordination challenges due to the remote location of the fire. FirstNet provided a solution to this problem with the deployment of a SatCOLT, a vehicle with its own cell site non-reliant on commercial power supplies, that provided crucial connectivity and support to over 40 agencies and public safety personnel. This subsequently enabled efficient mapping of the location, real-time weather updates, and seamless communication among first responders.

In March 2022, a fire broke out near the Table Mesa neighborhood in Boulder, Colorado, close to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Facility. Over the course of six days, the NCAR Fire burned 190 acres. FirstNet deployables, including a compact rapid deployable owned by the City of Boulder, supported first responders on scene and ensured they could share critical information. Learn more at FirstNet.gov/Colorado.

The NCAR Fire, named for its proximity to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Facility, broke out near Boulder, Colorado in March 2022. The fire prompted the evacuation of 19,000 people and burned 190 acres. Public safety relied on FirstNet deployables, including a Compact Rapid Deployable, to connect their devices and communicate efficiently while managing the evacuations and battling the blaze.

To prepare for a potential Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, Pacific Northwest tribal groups participated in a full-scale disaster preparedness exercise called Thunderbird and Whale. This exercise simulated a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a 100-foot tsunami to help test emergency management plans and communication capabilities during a catastrophic event. Tribal agencies relied on a FirstNet deployable and cache of devices to communicate and coordinate with public safety partners.

Superior Ambulance has adopted FirstNet to strengthen paramedic communications and data sharing. The service has outfitted its emergency vehicles with FirstNet-enabled devices, facilitating secure and efficient data transmission between their medical professionals. The partnership will enhance public safety services across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

The Super Bowl — America’s largest sporting event — requires significant pre-planning to ensure the safety of players, staff, and spectators. Coordinating public safety communications for Super Bowl LVII involved more than a dozen different cities and jurisdictions and posed unique challenges, including overlap with another major sporting event the same week. Through the FirstNet Authority’s Network Experience Engagement Program, public safety officials in Arizona received pre-planning assistance for the Super Bowl, helping responders be ready on game day.

The Super Bowl — America’s largest sporting event — requires significant pre-planning to ensure the safety of players, staff, and spectators. Coordinating public safety communications for Super Bowl LVII involved more than a dozen different cities and jurisdictions and posed unique challenges, including overlap with another major sporting event the same week. Through the FirstNet Authority’s Network Experience Engagement Program, public safety officials in Arizona received pre-planning assistance for the Super Bowl, helping responders be ready on game day.

The Leon County Sheriff's Office in Tallahassee, Florida, participated in a demonstration of FirstNet technology to show how a dedicated public safety broadband network and technologies make a diff

FirstNet is supporting public safety officials by providing coverage with deployable communication assets as they respond to flooding across eastern Kentucky.

FirstNet’s Compact Rapid Deployable (CRD) is a miniature cell tower that first responders can depend on to provide reliable coverage during emergencies.

Public safety requested FirstNet emergency support 100+ times for Hurricane Ian. Assets from the dedicated FirstNet fleet supported first responders in affected areas, including Charlotte, Col