Local

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.

In rural Jackman, Maine, the community has taken an innovative approach to providing emergency care quickly and efficiently. With the help of FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband network, local paramedics can conduct telehealth sessions and treat residents at the local health clinic or in their homes. Through the use of telemedicine and a reliable broadband connection, paramedics can treat patients on site rather than transporting them to a hospital over an hour away. Learn more: https://firstnet.gov/newsroom/blog/firstnet-enables-telehealth-inland-island-jackman-maine

Law enforcement officers are among the most important users of the FirstNet network, along with other public safety agencies like EMS, fire services, 9-1-1, and emergency management. When help is needed from the wider community, public safety can temporarily give other subscribing organizations elevated access to the network. This keeps everyone connected and communicating when it matters most.

A prominent leader in the 9-1-1 community—Renee Gordon, Director of the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) in the City of Alexandria, Virginia—recently joined the FirstNet Authority Board. Renee has led some particularly innovative efforts in remote 9-1-1 operations and in regionalizing ECCs. We asked Renee about the current and future state of 9-1-1, the role of FirstNet in the ECC, and her priorities while serving on the FirstNet Authority Board.

In Charles County, Maryland, the school district has adopted FirstNet’s secure and dependable network to ensure communication during emergency and day-to-day situations. The school district has also integrated the use of drones into their school security plans, enhancing situational awareness for responders so they can more efficiently respond to emergencies.

FirstNet’s Cell Booster Pro is a valuable tool for EMS to bridge the gap between FirstNet service in the field and when responders return to the station. This in-building solution boosts FirstNet coverage indoors where EMS officials work. Two EMS agencies that use the device share their experiences and advice for other agencies.

The Los Angeles Police Department, one of the biggest police departments in the country, is modernizing its communications and issuing FirstNet devices to all of its almost 10,000 officers.

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

The Burleson County’s Sheriff’s Office is safeguarding their community using innovative technologies, like drones that enhance situational awareness in their rural part of Texas.

When disasters strike, public safety officials need access to a reliable communications network to facilitate and coordinate resources in a moment’s notice. During a wildfire that started near the National Center for Atmospheric Research facility, the City of Boulder, Colorado experienced firsthand how FirstNet Compact Rapid Deployable assets quickly resolved connections issues by reestablishing communication within 15 minutes.

In the City of St. Augustine, Florida, when multiple public safety agencies are involved in different aspects of securing the city―whether in the aftermath of a hurricane or during a large planned event―communication is critical to ensure all partners are informed and working as a single unit. Agency personnel citywide are connected to FirstNet, an interoperable network that provides reliable communication when they need it most.

Broadband infrastructure remains limited in rural communities, making it difficult for local public safety to stay connected and respond quickly to emergencies. In Shade Gap, Pennsylvania, this has meant dropped 9-1-1 calls and significant communications challenges for the mountainous area. With the launch of a new FirstNet cell site in Shade Gap, local first responders now have access to high-speed, reliable cellular connectivity that is enhancing public safety for residents and visitors.

Every year during the holidays, the city of St. Augustine in Florida is transformed by millions of holiday lights that bedazzle the city’s downtown in an event called Nights of Lights. As visitors marvel at the twinkling lights, St. Augustine officials use FirstNet to ensure the event runs smoothly and safely for everyone involved.

The community of Jackman, Maine, has taken an innovative approach to providing emergency care quickly and efficiently. With the help of FirstNet, paramedics in Jackman can conduct telehealth sessions and treat residents at the local health clinic or in their homes, rather than transporting patients to a hospital over an hour away.

The “Monster Mile” at Dover Motor Speedway can be as tough on communications as it is on drivers. With more than a dozen public safety partners supporting races and the Firefly Music Festival, reliable connectivity is critical. FirstNet is ensuring responders can communicate and share information to keep visitors safe.

The Dallas Police Department in Georgia is the first in the state—and one of the first in the country—to completely switch from land mobile radios (LMR) to public safety broadband for their communications. Dallas Police Chief Joe Duvall shared how they made the decision to switch and how it’s going so far.

Renee Gordon leads a large, innovative 9-1-1 center in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. She is an effective 9-1-1 leader because she understands all sides of a 9-1-1 call. She has been a public safety dispatcher, a police officer, and a person who has experienced emergencies. Gordon and her team in Alexandria are known for creative problem-solving, like pioneering remote call-taking during the pandemic. She empowers her public safety colleagues to identify the next innovative solution with the goal of providing better service to their communities.

Deputy Chief Gavin Babieracki of Otsego County EMS Rescue shares his experience responding when a tornado struck his community, a rare event in northern Michigan. Though the tornado was unexpected, Babieracki and his team were prepared with FirstNet and other technologies to keep first responders connected throughout the disaster.

Chief Sylvia Moir is a police executive with more than three decades of local police practice and over a decade of experience as a chief of police. She was appointed to the FirstNet Authority Board by the Secretary of Commerce in October 2021. Chief Moir shared her perspectives on FirstNet, her service on the board, and the role of mindfulness in policing.

Fire departments around the country are investing in drone technology to keep firefighters safe. Division Chief Dan Cremeans of the Durham Fire Department in North Carolina explained how their drone program helped keep firefighters safe as they battled a fire at a fertilizer plant containing hundreds of tons of highly flammable chemicals.