Teton Interagency Fire Reduces Mobile Command Costs

Initial lack of remote communications required frequent down valley truck trips to deliver messages; deployment of TACPAK Briefcase Mobile Command Center enables data and messaging onsite

Fort Collins, CO (prHWY.com) December 15, 2011 - In today's grim budget environment, every fire dollar counts. When the Red Rock and Gray Hills fires combined to ravage 12,000 acres in the remote Gros Ventre Wilderness, Teton Interagency Fire responded. Due to the remote Fire Complex location, data and voice communication was limited to costly and inefficient hand delivered messages and radio connections made by sending trucks many miles down valley. "We seek to correct this today, if possible, as the gravel road into the remote site we're located at is difficult and at times un-safe, so this Internet access will mitigate some of our safety/travel concerns", said Ron Steffens, Deputy Incident Commander. In response, the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security deployed their TACPAK Briefcase Command Center, manufactured by 308 SYSTEMS (www.308systems.com), at the fire site. The beauty of these ultra-agile TAC-PAK Mobile Command systems is that they were easily thrown in the back of a fire pickup and quickly deployed to the Fire Complex. Immediately, the command staff had access to satellite based data messaging, telephone connections, and interoperable radio from the remote fire site. This single piece of equipment was credited with saving firefighting funds and improving the efficiency of the successful wildfire response.

Responding to this type of fire is a costly and labor intensive task for any agency. By combining these two fires under a "Fire Complex" structure, a single team could manage both fires from the fire camp. However, the fires presented significant challenges due to the remote location and lack of robust regional communications infrastructure.

Due to the fluid nature of the fire operations, the TAC-PAK significantly improved the TIF quick reaction command and communications capabilities during this widespread incident. The satellite based TAC-PAK mobile command and communication system successfully provided cost effective and vital operational and welfare/moral communications traffic between the Fire Complex and related CONUS locations.

ABOUT 308 SYSTEMS
At the vanguard of rugged mobile command and communications, for 14 years 308 SYSTEMS has provided forward thinking Ultra-Agile briefcase based mobile command solutions to a broad spectrum of commercial, government, and military customers. From its headquarters in Fort Collins, Colorado, 308 Systems has established a legacy of innovation and leadership in developing advanced, integrated TAC-PAK, NETPAK, TRAKIT and SATPAK communication systems satisfying the customized specifications of military, government and commercial clients. These technical capabilities are available on multiple GSA schedules, and are complimented by a focus upon technical excellence, quality products, and uncompromised integrity.

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Tag Words: radio interoperability, field communications, satellite, mobile command

Categories: Technology

Press Release Contact
Please contact Mr. Mark Lueker, Director of Advanced Projects, 217 Racquette Dr. Ste 3, Fort Collins, CO 80524 Telephone 970/282-7006. Website: www.

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