The Atmore City Council has agreed to purchase a fire truck, reports The Atmore Advance.

Resolution 2021-18 was adopted for the use of a bradford fire apparatus for the fire department.

By Billy Freeman, Senior Public Safety Advisor, First Responder Network Authority

Wildland fires continue to burn at all-time highs. From January to July 2021, more than 2.6 million acres were burned nationwide, including the massive, yet-to-be-contained Bootleg Fire in Oregon. In 2020, nearly 59,000 wildfires burned more than 10 million acres. This was the second-most acreage impacted in a year since 1960, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center for wildland fires.

Since the launch of FirstNet in 2018, the network has become an important tool in the toolbox for wildland firefighters. We have seen tremendous interest and use of the FirstNet fleet of portable network assets for public safety agencies’ emergency response needs, with more than 750 requests from public safety in 2020.

At the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), our goal is to support public safety in operationalizing their network, FirstNet, and ensure it continues to evolve to meet public safety’s communications needs. As part of our engagement efforts, we spoke to several wildland firefighters and agencies about lessons learned of using public safety broadband for combating wildfires. Here are their takeaways and key things to keep in mind when it comes to using FirstNet to support the frontlines:

1. Know how to request FirstNet’s deployable assets for a Wildland Fire Incident

When disaster strikes, the FirstNet fleet of dedicated public safety deployables assets provides users with the ability to add FirstNet coverage and capacity where they need it most. FirstNet deployables can boost coverage areas to support wildfire incident command and response or increase capacity at base camps.

The fleet is made up of more than 100 deployable assets, like SatCOLTS, Compact Rapid Deployables, and Communications Vehicles, which are available to FirstNet subscribers 24/7 by request and at no extra charge. These mobile cell sites link to FirstNet via satellite, provide access to FirstNet’s Band 14 public safety spectrum, do not rely on commercial power availability, and provide similar capabilities and c

Troy (NY) Fire Department’s brand-new fire truck was side wiped less than a week after it was put in service, according to a report published by the Times Union. The paper reported the truck was unscathed by the incidents.

Engine 6 was crossing the Menands Bridge returning from a call in South Troy when the vehicle collided with the new truck and sped away, according to the newspaper.

No injuries were reported by the suspect vehicle lost a door handle and a sideview mirror, according to the report. The car subsequently sped away and police pursued the car on to I-787 breaking off the chase when the vehicle traveled on to Route 378 into Troy, according to the report, which also said a State Police Aviation Unit participated in the pursuit.

The Arlington County (VA) Fire Department (ACFD) recently moved into their new Station 10 in Rosslyn, reports arlnow.com.

The new digs, a brick building with retractable glass doors, sits at the base of one of the high-rise buildings in the Highlands Development—two apartment towers and one condo tower on the 1500 block of Wilson Blvd.

The station has been in the works for five years, the report notes.

The pandemic ixnays any station tour plans, but ACFD says it will share the facility’s features via various social media platforms.

Station 10 houses an engine, paramedic ambulance, and technical rescue support unit, officials say, as well as six personnel consisting of an officer, three firefighters, and two medics assigned on each shift.

Related Articles:
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Arlington (VA) Board Expected to Approve Fire Station
Arlington County (VA) Fire Station No. 3 Designed to Fit Into Residential Neighborhood
Arlington County (VA) Considers Closing Fire Station and Opening Another One