When most people think about Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES), they focus on signal strength and AHJ compliance. However, in California’s wildfire-prone regions—especially around Los Angeles—survivability isn’t just a regulatory checkbox; it’s a vital safety measure for real-world emergencies.
ERCES and the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
Many areas across California, including the greater Los Angeles region, are located within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)—where development meets flammable wildland. These zones have experienced some of the state’s most destructive fires: Woolsey, Creek, and Getty, among others.
As these fires become more frequent and intense, some fire marshals are increasingly examining ERCES designs not only for compliance but also for resilience in actual disaster scenarios. They must balance the extra risks associated with fires with the added costs that come with mitigation.
Survivability in a Fire Zone: What the Code Requires (and What It Doesn’t)
NFPA 1225 outlines survivability requirements for risers, backbone fiber, donor antenna cabling, and power, yet wildfire scenarios introduce risks that the code doesn’t fully address. In high-risk areas like LA County, some AHJs are going beyond the minimum requirements:
- Requiring outdoor cabling in rigid steel conduit
- Mandating that donor antennas be placed on non-combustible mounts away from vegetation
- Specifying remote generator locations, sometimes outside the fire exposure zone
- Requesting 2-hour rated rooms even for enclosures that are technically exempt under the national code
In short: survivability expectations change when the AHJ has seen what wildfire can actually do.
5 Key Questions for ERCES Designers in Fire Zones
- Is the property located in a WUI-designated area?
(Check Cal Fire maps or County GIS overlays.) - What’s the jurisdiction’s position on full vs. selective survivability?
- Is there historic wildfire data that may influence fire modeling or permit review?
- Can donor antennas be installed away from combustible roofing or tree lines?
- How will your backup power function if access to the site is cut off for days?
Designing for the Fire You Hope Never Encounters You
It’s easy to view ERCES as just another system to pass inspection. However, if your building is in a fire-prone area, you’re not just aiming for compliance—you’re preparing for emergency resilience.
The ERCES system is what ensures firefighters stay connected when radio towers burn and cellular networks go down. In Los Angeles and many other counties across all of California, where fire season now seems endless, that’s no longer a mere hypothetical.
At In-Building Wireless Solutions, we strive to balance code and cost, and will work with the AHJ and FCC License holder to design a system that satisfies both requirements.