FireWERX Dismounted Resource Tracking Challenge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FireCast Submits Innovative Wildfire First Responder Tracking Solution to FireWERX Dismounted Resource Tracking Challenge

Integrated tracking, resilient communications, and real-time situational awareness architecture aims to improve firefighter safety and interagency coordination in communications-degraded environments.

CAMARILLO, Calif. — October 18, 2026 — FireCast LLC has submitted its proposed FireCast Dismounted Resource Tracking Solution to the 2026 FireWERX Dismounted Resource Tracking Challenge, an innovation initiative conducted in collaboration with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) to identify and advance technologies that improve the safety and operational effectiveness of wildland firefighters.

The challenge seeks innovative solutions capable of providing near-continuous location tracking for firefighters operating on foot in remote, rugged, and communications-degraded environments, where conventional cellular networks and other communications infrastructure may be unavailable or unreliable.

FireCast's proposed solution addresses this challenge through an integrated architecture combining Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) tracking, LoRa-based wireless communications, Iridium satellite messaging, and interoperable geospatial information services to improve visibility of personnel, equipment, and operational resources during emergency response operations.

Addressing a Critical First Responder Safety Gap

During wildfires and other large-scale emergencies, incident commanders must coordinate personnel and resources across multiple agencies, jurisdictions, and geographic areas. Maintaining awareness of individual firefighters becomes particularly difficult when personnel move beyond established communications networks or operate in terrain that obstructs conventional radio and cellular coverage.

FireCast is being developed to address this operational gap by enabling distributed teams to securely access, exchange, and interact with mission-critical information as a coordinated “Team of Teams.”

"Knowing where firefighters are operating, especially when communications infrastructure is unavailable, is fundamental to protecting personnel and coordinating an effective emergency response," said a FireCast spokesperson. "Our objective is to connect dismounted responders, their team leaders, and incident command through a resilient, interoperable architecture that strengthens situational awareness without imposing unnecessary operational burdens."

A Four-Tier Architecture Designed for Resilient Operations

The proposed FireCast solution integrates four complementary architectural tiers:

1. FireCast Tracker: A compact, battery-powered personnel tracking device designed to provide automatic GNSS position reporting, resource identification, operational status, and emergency alert capabilities.

2. FireCast Team Gateway: A distributed communications gateway that aggregates tracking information from nearby personnel over LoRa wireless links and forwards operational data through Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT), with optional terrestrial communications pathways.

3. FireCast Incident Command Gateway: An incident-level integration service designed to consolidate tracking information, manage communications, and distribute authorized operational data to command personnel and compatible external systems.

4. FireCast Cloud and Mobile: Situational-awareness services supporting geographic visualization, incident coordination, and interoperability with compatible Common Operating Picture (COP) applications.

The architecture is intended to support operations in which terrestrial connectivity is limited, intermittent, or unavailable, while providing a pathway for integrating collected information into existing agency workflows.

Interoperability Across Agencies and Jurisdictions

A distinguishing objective of FireCast is its emphasis on open interfaces and cross-jurisdictional information sharing.

The proposed architecture incorporates geospatial interoperability capabilities involving GeoJSON, KML, PMTiles, what3words (W3W), and Cursor-on-Target (CoT), supporting the exchange, visualization, and interpretation of operational information across compatible applications.

Rather than requiring participating agencies to adopt an entirely new command-and-control environment, FireCast seeks to complement existing systems through adaptable data interfaces and a common operational information framework.

This approach is intended to support collaboration among local, regional, tribal, state, federal, and authorized nongovernmental emergency response organizations.

Building Upon Demonstrated Capabilities

FireCast's submission builds upon existing FireCast Mobile capabilities involving personnel tracking visualization, wildfire perimeter overlays, and aircraft position displays.

The proposed tracking devices, satellite-enabled gateways, integrated communications pathways, and associated performance characteristics represent additional development and validation activities.

If selected to advance in the FireWERX program, FireCast intends to refine and evaluate these capabilities through hardware integration, communications testing, interoperability demonstrations, and operationally relevant assessments with participating fire agencies.

The development effort will emphasize location-reporting reliability, communications resilience, personnel safety, usability, power endurance, cybersecurity, and deployment scalability.

Supporting the FireWERX Pilot-to-Scale Mission

The FireWERX Dismounted Resource Tracking Challenge is part of a broader Pilot-to-Scale Pathway intended to connect promising wildfire response technologies with operational end users.

The initiative offers up to $300,000 in total potential sub-grant funding for selected solutions, supporting technical refinement, controlled testing, and subsequent evaluation in operationally relevant environments.

The program's challenge evaluation is currently scheduled for December 14, 2026, with finalist notifications expected in late October.

FireCast's submission reflects its commitment to advancing technologies that help first responders operate more safely and effectively in challenging environments, while enabling coordinated emergency response across organizational and jurisdictional boundaries.

The FireCast submission is an application for evaluation and does not constitute selection, an award, or an endorsement by FireWERX or the Orange County Fire Authority.

About FireCast

FireCast is an emerging emergency response technology platform focused on improving first responder safety, resilient communications, geographic situational awareness, and interagency coordination.

The FireCast product family is being developed to enable emergency responders and incident commanders to securely access and exchange mission-critical information across distributed operational environments, including areas with limited or disrupted communications infrastructure.

Through integrated tracking devices, edge communications gateways, mobile applications, and interoperable information services, FireCast seeks to connect responders and decision-makers into a coordinated Team of Teams.

About FireWERX

FireWERX is a nonprofit innovation organization dedicated to accelerating the development, evaluation, and adoption of technologies addressing wildfire response challenges. Through its Fire Innovation Units and Pilot-to-Scale Pathways, FireWERX connects innovators with fire agencies to evaluate operationally relevant solutions and support broader adoption.

For additional information about the Dismounted Resource Tracking Challenge, visit https://www.firewerx.org/challenge.

Media Contact

FireCast LLC
Media and Business Development Inquiries
Email: info@firecast.solutions
Website: www.firecast.solutions

Costs of Wildfire in California report released!

The CALIFORNIA COUNCIL ON SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (CCST) has released a report for download (https://ccst.us/reports/the-costs-of-wildfire-in-california-2/) funded by partners at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. This report summarizes the state of knowledge regarding wildfire losses and their associated costs across key sectors. It challenges the assumptions underlying current fire management policies and proposes a novel framework for understanding the total cost of wildfire in California. The results of this study suggest opportunities for policy makers to improve the effectiveness of wildfire management in California by enabling regional approaches, increasing investments in mitigation and resilience strategies, and accounting for the cumulative public health impacts of exposure to multiple fire events.

This report includes several recommendations, including ES.6 - “California should create and manage a systematic, comprehensive data clearinghouse for wildfire events including wildfire smoke, prevention and mitigation, losses including health, societal and ecological impacts, and associated costs. Models exist for this type of clearinghouse in the CalEnviroScreen and the California Open and Transparent Water Data Platform. Such a clearinghouse could be established via an extension and expansion of the recently established Wildfire Forecast and Threat Integration Center.“

Senate Bil No. 209 Chapter 405 (http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB209) was recently amended relating to Wildfires. Excerpts are provided herein.

8586.7. (a)

(1) The office and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall jointly establish and lead the Wildfire Forecast and Threat Intelligence Integration Center.

(2) The Wildfire Forecast and Threat Intelligence Integration Center’s primary mission shall be to collect, assess, and analyze fire weather data, atmospheric conditions, and other threat indicators that could lead to catastrophic wildfire and to reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfire incidents that could endanger the safety of persons, property, and the environment by developing and sharing intelligence products related to fire weather and fire threat conditions for government decisionmakers.

(3) The Wildfire Forecast and Threat Intelligence Integration Center shall serve as the state’s integrated central organizing hub for wildfire forecasting, weather information, and threat intelligence gathering, analysis, and dissemination, and shall also coordinate wildfire threat intelligence and data sharing among federal, state, and local agencies, tribal governments, utilities, and other service providers, academic institutions, and nongovernmental organizations.

8586.7. (b)

(1) The Wildfire Forecast and Threat Intelligence Integration Center shall be comprised of representatives from the following organizations:

(A) The Office of Emergency Services.

(B) The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

(C) The Public Utilities Commission.

(D) The Military Department.

(E) The University of California.

(F) The California State University.

(G) The California Utilities Emergency Association.

(H) At least one representative of investor-owned utility companies, appointed by the President of the Public Utilities Commission.

(I) At least one representative of publicly owned utilities, appointed jointly by the Director of Emergency Services and the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection.

(J) Other members as designated jointly by the Director of Emergency Services and the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (May 2nd)

Getting the message out about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, May 2nd 2020

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has created Prep Day to raise awareness of wildfire risk, to share information and knowledge, and to help residents make changes to improve the survival of their homes and neighborhoods.

• Did you know? Embers are the main threat to homes during wildfires. Learn how to protect your home. https://bit.ly/2XqerUI

• Download a Wildfire Research Fact Sheet from @NFPA and @DisasterSafety on #roofing materials: https://bit.ly/2zoYNdB

• There ARE things you can do to protect your home from wildfire. Watch this video to find out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL_syp1ZScM&t=3s

• Video: Your home and wildfire; choices that can make a difference  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfbEcMeYFFA

• Video: Make a plan to keep your pets safe if there’s a wildfire! https://youtu.be/rqKLXN6Nnis

FireCast Pro showcased at Aerial Fire Fighting North America 2020

Under the joint innovation project with AeroComputers Inc (ACI) of Oxnard California, iCode (now FireCast) updated their FireCast® Gateway to interface to ACI’s proven UC-6000 and their emerging AC-7000 mission computers. 

During the Aerial Fire Fighting North America 2020 Conference in Sacramento (4-5 March) iCode publicly revealed their FireCast® Pro mobile application for first responders equipped with iPhone and iPad mobile devices. iCode will be releasing a companion FireCast® Community edition app later this year for general public use.

A key feature recently incorporated into the FireCast® Pro mobile app is the ability to receive, store and display digital Fire Perimeters generated by AeroComputer’s AC-7000 mission computer. This feature expedites the delivery of tactically actionable information to teams of first responders in, around, and above the wildfire operating area.

Among other features, the FireCast® Pro app is also able to receive position updates from Aircraft participating in Wildfire operations, Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) updates, and the location of Firefighters equipped with an Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAC), and the location of other FireCast® Pro equipped first responders.

The FireCast Pro - a native iPhone or iPad mobile app, can receive and overlay Fire Perimeters such as this one from the Maria Fire captured by the emerging AC-7000 mission computer from AeroComputers Inc.

Mapbox used to distribute Thomas Fire Perimeter updates to the world

Open data for Thomas and Ventura fires

Sharing imagery to track and respond to fires

By: Camilla Mahon

As wildfires rip through Ventura, California we’re partnering with DigitalGlobe to share imagery and critical data through their Open Data Program. DigitalGlobe is publicly releasing their satellite imagery for Ventura and surrounding communities and will expand coverage based on the fire’s reach.

DG has worked with us to use this imagery to update our fire tracking map, a tool we shared during the Northern California wildfires earlier this year. The map includes address search and zoom features that allow you to check specific areas in or near the fire zones, and it includes the latest fire perimeters provided by first responders on the ground.  As we saw in the NorCal fires, this imagery can be crucial in coordinating responses as well as providing much needed information to those forced to evacuate.

iCode's FireCast Pro mobile application leverages rendering Wildfire Fire Perimeter content via the Mapbox® Engine.  Process once, deploy everywhere! 

$300 Million for Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) initiatives

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Dereck Orr, division chief for the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) program, talks about how his organizations new initiatives that are funded by $300 mission in proceeds from the FCC's AWS-3 spectrum auction.  

IWCE interview with Dereck Orr

Calling 911

HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - 911

On the May 15th recording of the HBO Series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, John highlighted the current limitations to the 9-1-1 infrastructure and the challenges 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers must overcome due to the drastic increase in mobile 9-1-1 calls.  John Oliver rightly pointed out how Americans across the country trust 9-1-1 and rely on 9-1-1 call takers in their worst moments.  While there are over 6,400 9-1-1 Call Centers in the US many are not able to respond to the onslaught of calls they can receive when anything more than a minor crisis occurs.  Moreover, with over 70% of all 9-1-1 calls originating from cellular phones the utility of legacy location services (tied to the physical location of landline phones) the need for wireless location solutions is needed. 

To help address this issue, internet-technology is being leveraged to create Next Generation 911 (NG9-1-1) capability that can accept more than voice calls from yesteryear's Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) / Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) callers, adding the ability to request assistance via text and video – eventually from any internet-connected device.  NG9-1-1 also provides 9-1-1 with a platform that can quickly grow to match the needs of the community, share emergency services between communities, and even send all calls to a different 9-1-1 call center in the event of an outage or large-scale disaster. All of these are difficult or impossible to do with today’s 9-1-1 network.  NG9-1-1 also provides a way to send data “alongside” a 9-1-1 call. For example, imagine placing a call for 9-1-1, and having your name, frequented addresses, pre-existing medical conditions, and emergency contacts instantly available to 9-1-1 and First Responders.  Imagine placing a call from a large university campus, a shopping mall, or a corporate facility knowing that First Responders know exactly where to go to gain access to the building, and are able to reference floor plans to know exactly where to find you.  While NG9-1-1 provides a way to send such data, it does not provide tools to collect, store, validate, and manage this complex data. NG9-1-1 is also an emerging technology. It has taken a nearly a decade to develop the standards and get a small fraction of the nation’s 9-1-1 call centers on line. Yet even in these areas, you cannot send video or data alongside an emergency call with the NG9-1-1 network in place – more work remains.

Enhanced 9-1-1 (E911) is a solution designed to provide both caller location and identification.  Instead of merely using the billing address for a wireless subscriber - a location that may not remotely represent where the wireless device resides in the here and now, an alternate method is needed, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has outlined several requirements which wireless network operators must support.  This includes requirements to identify the cell tower used by 9-1-1 callers (Phase 1 of the program), and now the location (Lat/Lon) of the caller within 300 yards (Phase 2 of the program).  Carriers were allowed to choose to implement 'handset based' location by Global Positioning System (GPS) or similar technology in each phone, or 'network based' location by means of triangulation between cell towers.

Technologies such as the Smart911 software offered by Rave Mobile Safety acts as a bridge between NG9-1-1 and the E9-1-1 implementations, providing information (managed in a national database) on millions of individuals, and thousands of education, business, healthcare, and government facilities.  The goal is to provide the right information at the right time, directly impacting the outcome of an emergency, and peoples lives.