EaseAlert, a leader in firefighter alerting technology, today announced that the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has selected EaseAlert to modernize emergency alerting across its Schedule B facilities throughout California.
This represents the world’s largest deployment for firefighter alerting technology, with the ultimate goal of spanning 295 CAL FIRE facilities. In doing so, CAL FIRE is modernizing its stations without the lengthy construction and hardwiring required for traditional station alerting systems.
“CAL FIRE is operating at a world-class scale, and they were looking for a solution that could improve health and efficiency for thousands of personnel across hundreds of facilities in a short period of time,” said Blake Richardson, co-founder and CEO of EaseAlert. “The fact that EaseAlert can be deployed quickly is important, but what matters most is that we’re giving firefighters a fundamentally different way to receive an alert. Instead of relying on a hardwired system to wake everyone in the station, we’re providing a wireless system that targets individuals with low-impact, highly effective tactile, visual, and audible alerts.”
For decades, fire station alerting has centered around one objective: making sure responders do not miss a call. Bells eventually gave way to radios, loud station tones, and bright overhead lights. Some systems have introduced tones that gradually increase in volume to reduce the initial startle response, but audible alerts remain the primary way many firefighters are awakened and notified of an emergency.
This creates a problem: audible alerts need to be loud to ensure everybody hears them. This fires up a jarring fight-or-flight reaction every time responders receive a 911 call. As a result, firefighters are up to 14.1 times more likely to die of a heart attack or sudden cardiac death during alarm response than during non-emergency duties.
EaseAlert was built around a different approach. Its technology uses tactile alerts, including vibration on the wrist and bunk, alongside low-impact red lighting and “heart-smart” audible alerts. This allows for targeted alerts to assigned responders without the detrimental physiological reaction to loud tones.
CAL FIRE will deploy a base package of EaseAlert technology that includes Central Command Units, TacPods, BunkAlerts, LED strips, and SafeTones. Stations can upgrade this base package with EaseAlert’s full suite of alerting technology once the base package is installed, thanks to its modular design.
“EaseAlert helps reduce unnecessary stress and disruption for our personnel by providing more efficient and effective alerts, helping crews mobilize quickly and respond to emergencies faster,” says Jared Lees, Battalion Chief, Command & Control at CAL FIRE. “This investment reflects CAL FIRE’s continued commitment to supporting our personnel, strengthening emergency response capabilities, and providing the highest level of service to the public.”
The system runs on EaseAlert’s mission-critical server, with individual nodes providing custom alerting logic for each response facility and Prism-IPX Systems supplying a radio-based backup path. If a station’s primary connection is degraded, EaseAlert fails over to the Prism-IPX radio link automatically, so the alert still reaches the right responders immediately.
CAL FIRE’s scale makes the project significant beyond California. As one of the largest and most complex emergency response agencies in the world, its decisions around technology and operations are closely watched by municipal fire departments throughout California and by response agencies.
For EaseAlert and the fire service at large, the project marks an inflection point in wellness and operational effectiveness for emergency responders across the globe. Firefighter Alerting (FFA) is replacing Fire Station Alerting (FSA) as the new gold standard, because systems should be designed around the responders assigned to the call, not the buildings that they work in.
EaseAlert is now offering $50k off a firefighter alerting system with its Fire Station of the Year award. Applications are open today and due February 28, 2027.
About EaseAlert
EaseAlert is a technology company modernizing how firefighters and emergency responders receive critical alerts. Its Firefighter Alerting System combines tactile, visual, and audible notifications to replace or augment traditional station alerting. EaseAlert’s mission is to reduce unnecessary stress in the alerting process while helping emergency responders receive critical information quickly and effectively.
For more information, visit EaseAlert.com.
