-Editorial
The Imperial County Fire Department received a $50,000 grant from T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants Program to support technology upgrades at the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Heber. The program, which has now surpassed $20 million in funding nationwide, has benefited more than 450 communities across the United States.
Fire Chief David Lantzer said the grant will be used to modernize the EOC’s technology, including replacing current monitors and displays with interactive screens, updating the sound system with microphones and speakers, and enhancing video conferencing and interactive meeting capabilities.
“This room gets used a lot for training, meetings, and emergency activations. It’s very important to bring it up to speed,” Lantzer said. He noted that the EOC is used regularly by the sheriff’s department, the California Highway Patrol, ambulance services, and the Heber Public Utility District for both operational and training purposes.
Lantzer added that the total cost of the upgrade project is $158,000, with the department seeking additional funding to complete the full improvements. Even with partial funding, he said the $50,000 grant provides a strong start.
Frank Aguayo, T-Mobile’s rural market manager covering southern Arizona and Imperial County, said the grant is part of the company’s broader effort to support the communities it serves.
“We’re very excited about this opportunity,” Aguayo said. “This time, the award is $50,000, and it’s going toward a great cause. At T-Mobile, we want the communities we serve to know that our commitment goes beyond investments in towers and retail stores. It’s also about supporting causes that truly resonate locally, and there’s no better way to do that than by partnering with the fire department to help meet its needs.”
Lantzer said the grant will immediately allow the department to start implementing key technology upgrades, improving both in-person and virtual meeting capabilities.
“The way we do that is I put my iPad up and I hold it and and I just try to put it in a place where the person online can see but some people who are a little farther away this person online won’t be able to hear so we have those constant problems,” he explained.
T-Mobile awarded a grant to the Calexico Fire Department to purchase new equipment earlier this year. Imperial County Supervisor District 3 Peggy Price and Imperial County Sheriff Fred Miramontes were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony in Heber.
