Strengthening Fireground Communications and Operational Readiness

When the Cell Network Is Too Congested to Reach Command | Jeff Buchanan, FirstNet

Reliable communications are critical to safe and effective fire and emergency service operations. During the Route 91 mass shooting in Las Vegas, network congestion prevented a deputy chief from completing a call or text to another chief—highlighting the consequences communications failures can have during complex, large-scale incidents.

Former Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Chief Jeff Buchanan, now working in fire service strategy at FirstNet, shares lessons from his career in emergency response and public safety communications. Buchanan explains how land mobile radio (LMR), broadband, priority and preemption, and redundant communications systems work together to strengthen incident command, interoperability and firefighter safety.

Drawing on his experience leading Las Vegas Fire & Rescue and chairing a regional communications council responsible for approximately 10,000 radios, Buchanan also discusses the transition to P25, emerging communications technology, network accountability, and strategies for helping departments adapt to new technology.

What You’ll Learn

• What priority and preemption mean for emergency responders
• Why LMR and broadband should complement—not replace—one another
• What the Route 91 response revealed about network congestion and communications resilience
• How redundant communications support operations during major incidents
• Why communications planning is essential to firefighter and responder safety
• How P25 and interoperable systems support regional emergency response
• How deployable and airborne cell sites can provide connectivity in challenging environments
• Why oversight and accountability matter for public safety communications
• How fire service leaders can approach resistance to new communications technology

The conversation provides practical insights for fire chiefs, incident commanders, communications leaders and emergency service professionals responsible for maintaining reliable communications and operational effectiveness during routine responses and large-scale emergencies.