Keeping Firefighters Connected When Every Second Counts
When disaster strikes, reliable communication is essential. In the wake of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, first responders faced major connectivity challenges, making coordination even more difficult in an already high-risk situation.
During the LA wildfires, Armada worked to quickly deploy its Armada Connect platform alongside Starlink hardware, helping more than 15 state, local, and federal agencies stay connected in the field. Partnering with other companies on the ground, we were able to help ensure the rapid deployment of critical connectivity resources where they were needed most.
Supporting First Responders on the Ground
As emergency crews battled the fires, many fire victims found that the communication infrastructure they relied upon had failed due to a combination of power outages, physical damage to network towers and fiber optic lines, and network congestion from the surge in emergency communications. Without reliable connectivity, coordinating evacuations, fire suppression efforts, and resource distribution became increasingly difficult.
Recognizing the need, Tamiko Sianen, one of the account executives on Armada's State and Local team, reached out to Orange County Fire Division Chief Kevin Fetterman to see what he and his crews needed to continue fighting the fires. When he requested Starlink Mini kits for strike teams in the field, we quickly secured and shipped 12 units, which arrived the next morning and were immediately deployed with Armada’s Connect platform to manage them. Soon, additional agencies requested support, and we helped facilitate the deployment of more than 500 Starlink terminals across affected areas including several Armada employees hand delivering kits into the disaster area.
Ensuring Continued Connectivity for Recovery Efforts
Even after the fires were contained, maintaining communication remained essential for coordinating relief and recovery operations. To support these efforts Armada extended Starlink’s offer of free service for one month by providing complimentary access to Armada Connect. This allowed response teams to efficiently manage Starlink terminals, monitor bandwidth usage, see where additional terminals were needed, and maintain connectivity during critical recovery efforts.
Events like these highlight the growing need for resilient, rapidly deployable communication solutions in disaster response. While emergency services continue to adapt, integrating technology like edge computing, satellite connectivity, and real-time data management will be key to improving preparedness and response capabilities.
Strengthening Future Disaster Response
This wildfire response is a reminder that disaster relief isn’t just about boots on the ground—it’s also about having the right tools in place before the next crisis hits. AI-powered systems, real-time data sharing, and scalable communications networks are critical to strengthening emergency response and resilience.
At Armada, we’re committed to ensuring that first responders and emergency teams have access to the best technology when it matters most. Through collaboration with industry partners, government agencies, and other organizations, we are shaping the future of disaster response—making it faster, smarter, more connected, and, most importantly, safer for those on the front lines.
