Case Study: LA County Fire Mobile Data Network
Published 2026-02-22
Los Angeles County Fire Department is one of the largest and most complex fire agencies in the world, protecting over four million residents across more than 4,000 square miles of diverse terrain — from dense urban neighborhoods to remote wildland areas in the Angeles National Forest. The department operates more than 170 fire stations with over 4,800 suppression personnel, responding to more than 400,000 incidents annually. Providing reliable mobile data connectivity across this vast and varied service area represents one of the most demanding networking challenges in public safety.
The Challenge
LA County Fire's previous mobile data infrastructure relied primarily on commercial cellular connectivity, supplemented by a legacy radio data network. While this approach provided adequate coverage for routine operations in urban areas, it left significant gaps in the department's more remote service areas and proved vulnerable to network congestion during major incidents. During large wildland fires — which are increasingly common in Southern California — cellular infrastructure was often overwhelmed or damaged, leaving incident commanders without reliable data communications at the worst possible times.
The department needed a mobile data networking solution that could provide reliable connectivity across its entire service area, maintain performance during major incidents, and support the growing volume and complexity of data applications used by firefighters and paramedics in the field. The solution also needed to be cost-effective to deploy and maintain across the department's large fleet of apparatus.
The Solution
LA County Fire partnered with RadioMobile to design and implement a multi-path mobile data network that leverages LMR radio channels for data communications alongside commercial cellular connections. This hybrid approach takes advantage of the department's existing LMR radio infrastructure — which provides coverage in areas where cellular service is unavailable or unreliable — while retaining the high-bandwidth cellular connectivity needed for data-intensive applications in urban areas.
RadioMobile's networking equipment was installed in the department's apparatus fleet, providing intelligent management of multiple communication paths. The system continuously monitors the quality of available connections and automatically routes data traffic over the optimal path, seamlessly switching between cellular, LMR data, and other available networks without operator intervention. This transparency is critical in emergency operations, where firefighters and paramedics cannot be distracted by managing their communications technology.
Implementation
The deployment was executed in phases, starting with a pilot program in a representative sample of stations covering both urban and wildland areas. This phased approach allowed the department and RadioMobile to validate performance, identify optimization opportunities, and refine installation procedures before scaling to the full fleet. The pilot also provided valuable real-world performance data that informed the broader deployment plan.
Installation was designed to minimize apparatus downtime, with each unit typically returned to service within a single shift. RadioMobile's hardware is specifically engineered for the demanding environment of fire apparatus — rated for extended temperature ranges, vibration, dust, and moisture that would destroy commercial networking equipment. The compact form factor and flexible mounting options accommodated the diverse apparatus configurations in LA County Fire's fleet.
Results
The multi-path mobile data network has delivered significant operational improvements across the department. Coverage reliability increased substantially, with field personnel reporting consistent data access in areas that previously experienced frequent connectivity failures. During several major wildland fire incidents, the LMR data path maintained communications when cellular networks were overwhelmed, providing incident commanders with continued access to CAD data, mapping resources, and personnel tracking information.
The department also realized operational efficiencies through reduced IT support burden. The intelligent network management capabilities of the RadioMobile equipment automate many functions that previously required manual configuration or troubleshooting by field personnel, allowing firefighters and paramedics to focus on their primary mission rather than managing technology. Remote monitoring and diagnostic capabilities enable the department's IT staff to proactively identify and resolve networking issues before they impact field operations.
Lessons Learned
LA County Fire's experience offers valuable lessons for other agencies considering mobile data network upgrades. First, the phased deployment approach proved essential for managing the complexity and scale of the project while maintaining operational continuity. Second, the investment in multi-path networking — rather than simply upgrading to faster cellular connections — provided a fundamental improvement in reliability that has proven its value during critical incidents. Third, the close partnership between the department and RadioMobile throughout the planning, deployment, and optimization process was key to achieving outcomes that met the department's specific operational requirements.
The success of the mobile data network has positioned LA County Fire as a model for other large agencies seeking to modernize their mobile data infrastructure while ensuring the reliability and resilience that public safety operations demand.
This case study is based on RadioMobile's extensive partnership with LA County Fire Department. For more details on this deployment and other public safety success stories, visit the official LA County Fire case study and LMR mobile data network overview on RadioMobile's website. Additional case studies include deployments with CAL FIRE and the Bonita Sunnyside Fire Protection District.
Source: RadioMobile — Mission-Ready Solutions for Fire and EMS. Request a free consultation or learn more about the company.