NEW YORK – With more than 60 wildfires actively burning in more than a dozen states, the Verizon Frontline Response Team continues to deploy mission-critical communications technology in support of public safety agencies and the nearly 10,000 wildland firefighters currently on the front lines.

This year alone, the Verizon Frontline Response Team has deployed nearly 1,000 Verizon Frontline solutions to first responders in 18 states including Alaska, North Carolina, Florida, California, Texas and New Mexico.

Verizon Frontline technology has been delivered to multiple interagency command posts and 39 public safety agencies operating in nearly 70 communities. This technology provides mission-critical voice and data service to incident managers and firefighters operating in remote areas and helps coordinate fire mitigation efforts. The Verizon Frontline solutions provided by the Verizon Frontline Response Team have included Satellite Picocells on Trailers (SPOTs), routers, network extenders, mobile hotspots, smartphones and more.

“First responders are now battling wildfires year-round and we remain committed to delivering the reliable and secure communications technology they need to achieve their mission wherever and whenever they need it,” said Cory Davis, Director of Public Safety Operations for Verizon Frontline. “The Verizon Frontline Response Team stands ready to support wildland firefighters across the country as they work tirelessly to protect our communities.”

The Verizon Frontline Response Team has supported federal, state and local agencies at 49 named wildfires this year including Arizona’s Tunnel Fire, New Mexico’s Hermits Peak Fire, Colorado’s Marshall Fire and the Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park.

This support is provided at no cost to the supported agencies and represents a continuation of Verizon Frontline’s commitment to investing and innovating in partnership with public safety and government.

Verizon Frontline is the advanced network and technology built for first responders – developed over nearly three decades of partnership with public safety officials and agencies on the front lines – to meet their unique and evolving needs.

The Phillips Fire Department recently took ownership of a new rescue squad to replace a failing truck. Next, they’re looking for a better home for their fleet, DailyBulldog.com reported.

For about 12 years the department has researched ways to move out of the current location in the Public Works department on Park Street. A fire official said that the current station was an upgrade from the previous station and has served them well – but it’s time for a change. There are multiple factors that have led the department to search for a new home, according to the report.

The station is located at the Public Works lot, with two bays situated between the Public Works garage and the NorthStar Phillips Base. Behind the bays is a training area, bathroom and decontamination facilities, and the chief’s office, the report said.

Two bays requires that the department stack trucks within the station, which can cause some challenges based on which piece of apparatus is needed at the time. The space is limiting and restrictive, with no room for further expansion, the report said.

Because of the location, the trucks are routinely exposed to salt and dust from the salted sand pile located near the building. This exposure to salt, both from driving trucks in and out of the station and from wind blowing particles into the building, has resulted in excessive wear and tear to the fire trucks along with corrosion and issues in the electrical systems. Where the Public Works equipment are better suited for that environment, fire trucks are more sensitive pieces of equipment, and the effects show in the repair and maintenance costs, according to the report.

Constant sand, salt and dust takes a toll on the firefighters as well as the apparatus, the report said.

North Tahoe Fire Protection District accepted a pair of grants during its September meeting that will be used for a rescue apparatus, extrication equipment and advanced cancer screening for firefighters, the district announced on Monday, SierraSun.com reported.

The North Tahoe Fire Board of Directors approved acceptance of the 2021 Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grant, along with an El Dorado County Transient Occupancy Tax grant which totals $528,673, the report said.

El Dorado County awarded funds for a squad/quick response rescue apparatus ($350,000) and equipment to upfit it to the advanced life support level ($53,625) for a project total of $403,625. FEMA’s AFG funding, which helps firefighters obtain critically needed equipment to protect the public and emergency personnel, was awarded for extrication equipment ($11,158) and advanced cancer screenings ($113,880) which requires a match of non federal funds for a project total of $125,038, according to the report.

This follows a grant awarded by the Truckee Tahoe Airport District for heart monitors and AEDs ($90,905), bringing 100% of NTFPD’s engines to the ALS level, giving firefighters the equipment necessary to provide ALS paramedic level cardiac care in the event the engine arrives on scene before an ambulance, the report said. 

The Galleri multi-cancer early detection test finds more than 50 types of cancer through a simple blood draw, and identifies the organ system that is the source of the cancer with approximately 90% accuracy, the report said.

An official with the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation said since fire stations are in operation 24/7, 365 days a year that the wear and tear is considerable and that upkeep isn’t always covered by the city, KESQ.com reported.

The official said many of these “replacement” costs, like a new mattress, gym equipment, and washers and dryers are often not covered by the city’s budget. That’s why they’re looking for sponsors to “adopt” stations across the city, the report said.

Recently Tyler Perry Studios “adopted” station 5 in southwest Atlanta. According to the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation website, Delta, Chick-Fil-A, AT&T, and Georgia Power have also agreed to sponsor stations in the area.

There are 12 fire stations still in need of sponsors, the report said. For more information about the program and how you can support it, please contact Shirley Anne Smith at s.smith@atlfrf.org.