Angeles National Forest Sites to Be Used for LA Fire Communications System

By City News Service

Published Nov 4, 2019 at 10:31 AM

Angeles National Forest Sites to Be Used for LA Fire Communications System

AFP via Getty Images

An aircraft drops fire retardant over a fire in the Angeles National Forest near Mt. Wilson Observatory, northeast of Los Angeles, California, on October 17, 2017 overlooking the San Gabriel Valley. The brush fire in the mountains broke out before dawn blackening about 30 acres and was 5 percent contained as of 10 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. / AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

Angeles National Forest officials announced Monday an agreement that will lease 13 sites in the forest for installation of a radio system designed to unify local, state, and federal emergency responders with a communication system that uses a single state-of-the-art network.

The effort is designed to modernize communications among first responders in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area, said Jerome Perez, Angeles National Forest supervisor.

The agreement, signed on Oct. 31, will lease forest sites for installation of a Land Mobile Radio system operated by the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System Authority, Perez said.

"Amongst all public safety agencies in the Los Angeles Region, we have the motto of 'one-team-one-fight' and this decision will further deepen our relationships and passion for protecting life, property, and public lands," Perez said.

The 13 proposed project sites are distributed across the forest are a part of a proposed 60-site LMR system through L.A. County.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing federal funding for the forest's Land Mobile Radio project, which is a subset of the larger project.

Additional site-specific analysis was completed to meet U.S. Forest Service requirements and ensure that the project is in compliance with the Angeles National Forest's Land Management Plan.

The Angeles National Forest amended its Land Management Plan to consider tower heights and scenic integrity objectives.

Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-11-03/trump-newsom-squabble-california-fire-management