Columns

New Wireless Services Contracts for FireRescue GPO

Author: Jeffrey D. Johnson, CEO, Western Fire Chiefs Association
Published: 5/26/2020
Communication is essential in keeping the public safe and protecting our communities. Recently, our approved cooperative purchasing partner, Sourcewell, awarded contracts for Wireless Voice and Data Services to AT&T and Sprint. As a government organization, Sourcewell has been providing competitively awarded contracts to public entities for the past 40 years. This can make the purchasing process a little easier so that your first responders can get the modern equipment and services they need every day - smartphones, cell phones, tablets, Wi-Fi devices, chargers and accessories, and other related services. read more

COVID-19 and Wildfire—the Emerging Issues

Author: Chief Kim Zagaris, WFCA Wildfire Policy and Technology Advisor
Published: 5/19/2020
COVID-19 has produced an unprecedented series of new issues for the fire service and has impacted daily operations in numerous ways. Now wildfire season is here, and the idea of running a wildland fire camp in light of COVID-19 has created real issues for federal, state and local agencies. To track the conversation and offer real solutions to help the fire service, Intterra and WFCA have come together to produce a series of webinars focused on COVID-19 and wildfire. read more

WFCA Connects Partners to Bring Departments Needed Supplies

Author: Western Fire Chiefs Association
Published: 5/12/2020
Sourcewell, our FireRescue GPO cooperative purchasing partner, has teamed-up with Constellis to provide a cooperative purchasing avenue for personal protective equipment products and services. Products range from masks, gloves, face shields, gowns, and hand sanitizer to antibody tests and are available through the School Health Sourcewell contract. read more

California fire district leveraging FirstNet, BeOn PTT from L3Harris to save significant LMR costs

Author: Donny Jackson, IWCE's Urgent Communications
Published: 4/23/2020
Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District has teamed-up with L3Harris and FirstNet, built by AT&T, on a project to address coverage issues in its aging VHF infrastructure. The partnership anticipates lowering the rural fire district’s LMR capital costs approximately 60 percent by supplementing its VHF radio system with BeOn push-to-talk service and sharing tower sites. Importantly, the hybrid LMR-LTE push-to-talk strategy will move the area’s public safety communications forward and serve as a model to other U.S. public-safety entities. read more

You disinfect your hands, Why aren’t you disinfecting your phone?

Author: Sponsored Content from Sonim Technologies
Published: 4/22/2020
The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has resulted in many questions regarding “mobile hygiene” best practices. A study by the University of Arizona found that cell phones are 10X dirtier than public toilets. Another study found that over 99% of hospital staff smartphones are contaminated with pathogens. Yet, can your mobile phone withstand the aggressive cleaning and disinfecting to truly sanitize it? read more

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and the Economic Security (CARES) Act Summarized

Author: Jeffrey D. Johnson, CEO, Western Fire Chiefs Association
Published: 4/06/2020
With the uncertainty of the novel coronavirus pandemic, our community of first responders is facing tremendous pressure to answer the call. WFCA is committed to being a trusted resource by providing relevant information about COVID-19 that you can use at work and at home. Last week, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and the Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed by the President. WFCA has compiled a few resources on this topic you may find helpful as you manage through the COVID-19 crisis. read more

Western Fire Chiefs Association, IAFC, partner with Constellis to make Fire Chiefs aware of two new products being used to combat COVID-19

Author: Western Fire Chiefs Association
Published: 4/01/2020
The Western Fire Chiefs Association, along with the IAFC, have partnered with Constellis to make Fire Chiefs aware of two new products that are being used to combat the COVID-19 virus. One is a Rapid Test for the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The second is a UV-C Disinfectant for vehicle or station cleaning. Both of these products have been reviewed by multiple bodies of experts and shown to have great value to the Fire and EMS service. read more

Wildfires and the Pandemic – What’s Ahead

Author: Bob Roper, Senior Policy Advisor, Western Fire Chiefs Association
Published: 4/01/2020
The COVID-19 virus is presenting a unique challenge to our communities and first responders. Historically, communities and first responders prepare for a wildfire and then respond to the fire’s complexities. This has been a rather localized practice with a localized involvement. As wildfires have grown in size and scale, we are much more reliant on neighboring resources and in some cases multi-state/international response. History has shown that there has always been some type of “reserve capacity” available in the system to combat the challenges. read more

First Due & IAFC provide NO COST COVID-19 self-reporting solution for Public Safety

Author: Jeffrey D. Johnson, CEO, Western Fire Chiefs Association
Published: 3/30/2020
I am excited to make our readers aware of a solution that our friends at First Due, in partnership with the IAFC, are providing to public safety agencies nationwide at NO COST. First Due is releasing a version of Community Connect for COVID-19 specifically designed to help us track and manage Coronavirus and high-risk/functional needs occupants within our communities. We've heard from many of you how difficult read more

Super Tech On Wildfires - After Action Report

Author: Chief Kim Zagaris, WFCA Wildfire Policy and Technology Advisor
Published: 3/26/2020
Hats off to Orange County Fire Authority, Chief Brian Fennessy, his team, Intterra and all their collective partners! Out of the view of many of us in the wildfire community, this team has been quietly testing a quantum leap in real-time fire progression analysis which is virtually (pun intended) changing the way incident commanders view wildfire growth. At a minimun, you will want to read the FIRIS After Action Report (AAR) Executive Summary to see the incredible leap forward this pilot represents. read more