COVID-19 has had a significant impact on frontline first responders, including the volunteer fire and EMS community. To assist in the safety of these workers, FirstNet, Built with AT&T has teamed up with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to donate pandemic-related supplies to volunteer fire and EMS departments in need.

Nearly $900,000 worth of vinyl gloves, hand sanitizer, sanitising wipes, and reusable face coverings went to 107 fire departments in the continental U.S. To be eligible to apply for these supplies, departments had to be over 50 percent volunteer, serve a population of 25,000 or less, have an annual revenue less than $250,000, and demonstrate a need for the supplies.

“We thank the FirstNet Program at AT&T for their support of our nation’s volunteer firefighters and EMS providers through this donation,” said NVFC chair Steve Hirsch. “Many volunteer fire and EMS departments have limited budgets that they must stretch to cover their expenses. This donation will help resource-constrained departments get supplies they need to enhance the safety of their first responders while being able to allocate the money they would have spent on these to secure other necessary resources.”

FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. It is built with AT&T in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) – an independent agency within the federal government.

FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.