Keeping Communities Connected: AT&T California’s Response to the Los Angeles Fires

AT&T’s actions remain focused on those recovering from the devastating impacts of the Los Angeles wildfires.

Our efforts are rooted in connection, providing a reliable, advanced network with fast disaster recovery. 

Response Highlights:

• AT&T drew on its decades of experience responding to large-scale events to restore and maintain service during the Southern California wildfires.
• AT&T mobilized one of the industry’s largest disaster response programs to provide additional connectivity support amid the fires.
• With FirstNet^®, the only communications network purpose-built with and for first responders, we prioritized emergency communications needs, deploying mobile cell sites and other dedicated network assets for first responder communications.
• AT&T is supporting the American Red Cross to assist those impacted by the wildfires and is matching 100% of employee charitable contributions to local organizations.

We are committed to providing reliable communications before, during and after a severe weather-related event or disaster. This includes monitoring our networks 24/7 through our Global Technology Operations Center (GTOC) so our teams can quickly deploy resources to disaster areas.

During the Los Angeles wildfires, AT&T swiftly mobilized its extensive disaster response capabilities to help ensure continuous and reliable connectivity for impacted communities and public safety. By prioritizing the emergency communications needs of first responders through FirstNet^®, Built with AT&T, we were able to support critical operations across the impacted areas.

Our Network Response

Amidst the wildfires and simultaneous Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events, we worked rapidly to protect our network infrastructure by utilizing backup power capabilities.

Our dedicated team of meteorologists continuously monitored weather patterns, providing daily briefings and timely updates. This allowed our Network Disaster Recovery (NDR), FirstNet Response Operations Group™(ROG) and local network teams to strategically stage resources in anticipation of high fire danger scenarios, enabling these teams to effectively respond to the evolving situation.

AT&T Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) team at basecamp briefing.

Although our wireless and wireline network experienced impacts from the fires, we worked quickly to restore service in affected areas and deployed backup power generators throughout the affected communities to help ensure emergency personnel and residents could stay connected.

With more than $1 billion invested in the U.S. since its inception, our NDR program is one of the largest in the industry. Its sole purpose is to rapidly restore connectivity to areas impacted by disasters. Our teams have spent thousands of hours in the field and responded to countless emergencies.

To help keep wireless and wireline communications running during the Los Angeles disaster, our teams were dispatched from Texas, Kansas, Georgia and Nevada, mobilizing staff and emergency response assets.

WATCH OUR RESPONSE EFFORTS

We optimized the network and responded with mobile connectivity solutions, including:

• Deployment of a FirstNet Response Communications Vehicle (RCV), FirstNet Compact Rapid Deployables™ (CRDs), portable generators and satellite solutions such as Low Earth Orbit Connectivity Trailers (LCTs) and Low Earth Orbit Communication Portables (LECPs).
• AT&T’s Drones & Robotics team deployed Flying COWs^® (Cells on Wings) to provide critical wireless service to impacted areas. These assets were vital in maintaining communication for emergency services and residents.
  • Our Flying COWs^® connected approximately 90 users at any given time, transmitting 4GB per hour, with an average of 170 Mbps download speeds during the deployment. This is just one way we utilize advanced technology to support our communities during times of need.
  • The Flying COWs^® were strategically positioned at several key locations:
    • Zuma Beach in Malibu: Co-located with federal, state and local public safety command centers.
    • Riviera Neighborhood in Pacific Palisades: Utilized the higher elevation to extend our mobility signal across the impacted area.
    • Palisades-Brentwood Neighborhood: Served as a staging area for 40 firetrucks entering the Mandeville Canyon active fire.
    • Huntington Palisades Neighborhood: Center of area was severely impacted by the Palisades Fire.

In this video, an AT&T NDR support team member gives a boots-on-the-ground perspective of our ongoing network restoration efforts to reconnect communities impacted by the Southern California wildfires – AT&T Network Disaster Recovery | AT&T Newsroom

Connecting First Responders with FirstNet

FirstNet is the only network built with input from current and former public safety professionals specifically for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. FirstNet delivers interoperable communications across public safety entities nationwide, allowing first responders to communicate with one another easily and quickly.

While firefighters and other first responders bravely battled the growing wildfires, our team on the ground focused on keeping customers and their families connected and prioritized the critical communications needs of the public safety community.

• In addition to deploying Satellite Cell On Light Trucks (SatCOLTs) and backup power solutions, the FirstNet Response Operations Group (ROG) – led by a dedicated team of former first responders – supported public safety on the front lines.
• FirstNet ROG worked with agencies, including CalFire and CalOES, to deploy mobile FirstNet cell sites and Compact Rapid Deployables (CRDs) to provide FirstNet connectivity.
• Public safety agencies also deployed their own FirstNet mobile cell sites, giving them greater command and control of their network and dedicated connectivity in minutes.
  • CalFire deployed its agency-owned mobile FirstNet cell sites in the Los Angeles area to provide added, reliable coverage on the go.
• AT&T deployed AT&T Super Cell on Wheels (Super COWs) to public safety’s incident command post. These assets provided connectivity for first responders and wireless service for customers, as network capacity allowed. These Super COWs generate 10x the capacity of a normal antenna to further support those on the front lines.

Supporting Our Communities

As communities affected by the Los Angeles wildfires continue the recovery process, we are fully committed to supporting response and restoration efforts.

AT&T was a proud sponsor of the FireAid benefit concert with a $2 million donation. The concert was dedicated to rebuilding communities devastated by the wildfires. For more information, or to donate, visit FireAidLA.org.

Additionally, AT&T contributed $100,000 to the Red Cross, is supporting our local employees and matching employee donations to key organizations for communities impacted by the California wildfires.

• AT&T will match 100% of employee charitable contributions to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, Los Angeles Wildfire Recovery Fund, California Fire Foundation and American Red Cross.
• We will continue working with local communities to support recovery efforts.

Working closely together with local governments and community relief organizations, AT&T:

• Deployed assets to provide service to our customers via satellite technology.
• Strategically positioned generators to maintain continuous operation of our cell sites.
• Distributed portable power packs in Santa Monica and Pasadena and are providing customers with free Nighthawk M6 Pro hotspots, courtesy of NETGEAR, at select retail locations. The hotspots provide three months of free unlimited data.
• Equipped multiple evacuation zones with assets that offer Wi-Fi access, so affected individuals could stay connected with loved ones.
  • Public Charging Stations
    • The Westwood Recreation Center at 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
    • The Pasadena Convention Center at 300 E. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91101
    • Collins & Katz Family YMCA: 1466 S Westgate Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90025
    • Culver-Palms Family YMCA: 4500 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230
    • Pasadena-Sierra Madre YMCA: 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024
    • Santa Anita Family YMCA: 501 S. Mountain Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016
  • Complimentary Public Wi-Fi
    • Westwood Recreation Center at 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
    • It’s Bigger Than Us non-profit at 4302 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008

We’re also supporting our customers and community by:

• Working with customers directly impacted by the fires. Customers with concerns about their service or damaged equipment can reach us at att.com, on the myAT&T app or at 800-288-2020.
• Providing customer relief to wireline and wireless customers. For more information: https://about.att.com/pages/disaster-recovery/california-fires
  • Waiving some charges for residential and business wireline orders.
    • Customers in affected areas can call 877-241-1787 (consumer) and 800-321-2000 (small business) for assistance.
  • To help our Prepaid and Postpaid wireless customers impacted by the Southern California Wildfires stay connected through this difficult time, we are waiving overage charges to provide unlimited talk, text and data for AT&T Postpaid & Prepaid customers with billing addresses in zip codes across affected areas from Jan. 8-Feb. 15, 2025.
• We’re providing affected customers with up to three months of their current internet service, on us, via credits in their upcoming billing cycles, as long as they keep their service.
• Our teams worked closely with the City of Los Angeles to set up a dedicated hotline for residents to help retrieve their pets from the evacuation zones and impacted areas. We encourage residents to call the hotline at 213-270-8155 for possible information about their pets. Hotline services are available in both English and Spanish.
• AT&T and the non-profit Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC) deployed our Mobile Connectivity Center (MCC) at Malibu Bluffs Park. This free connectivity resource provides those affected by the wildfires with access to Wi-Fi, 16 computers and facilities to charge their devices.

We are immensely grateful to our employees, customers, neighbors, partners and the entire Los Angeles community for their resilience, patience and cooperation during this challenging time. AT&T has been connecting Californians for 145 years, and we are committed to helping our communities as we rebuild together.

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