Apps & Tools for Firefighter Communications Mapping & Location Sharing

Our Smartphones are amazing compared with the "portable" radios we had in the 60's. They required $40-$60 in batteries and lasted a day at best. Needless to say we rarely got to use these radios.

In the 60's communications at fireground was difficult at best. In the 70's things got better with a handheld radio you could really hold in your hand, but they were expensive.

Today we have smartphone that give us amazing communications capabilities, when they have service. The problem is cellular service is designed for average daily use. When there's a major event like an earthquake or something local like the Minneapolis bridge collapse cellular systems fail. Minneapolis Bridge Collapse: Why Cellular Service Goes Down During Disasters

Now First Responders have FirstNet a cellular system designed for first responders that gives them priority over other users.

When in remote locations like wildfires many times firefighters have no cell service there are ways to communicate.

Beartooth

Beartooth comes to the rescue providing talk, text, and location sharing in a small unit. Beartooth allows you to talk, text, share maps as well as your location for situational awareness.

GoTenna Pro

GoTenna is a portable mesh network device that allows you to link from unit to unit extending range. You can text, share maps and location with GoTenna but no voice communications.

Both of these units have their own individual advantages and disadvantages, so if your interested in this type of communications check these out carefully.




A PTT Walkie Talkie App is Zello is free and gives you worldwide communications.

International Association of Wildland Fire has a free app Tools for Volunteer and Wildland Firefighters