Comcast Business Keeps Customers Connected During Wildfires

The Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany have become an emergency shelter for wildfire evacuees, and Comcast Business has stepped up to help the fairground keep its new, temporary residents connected.

One of the fairground buildings was already serviced with coax cable, but according to Linn County Deputy Sheriff Andy Babeau, they needed more bandwidth to support the sudden increase in demand.

“It was simply inadequate for the hundreds and hundreds of families we had seeking shelter from the fires,” Babeau said.

Comcast Business builds its network so that it has the capacity to handle spikes and shifts in usage patterns, and its regional centers monitor network performance 24/7 to ensure that any issues caused by wildfires are addressed by service teams as soon as it is safe. Jay Burris, Director of Installation for Comcast Oregon/SW Washington, recognized the immediate need at the Fairgrounds and deployed technicians to enable gigabit service.

Babeau went on to say, “You guys were great. You were out there within a couple of hours.”

The evacuees are using the services to stay connected to their family, friends and colleagues, allaying worries by letting them know they’re safe.

It takes a team to bring an urgent effort like this to fruition. Credit goes to everyone who touched this project, from the initial call for assistance to the technicians on the scene.  Said Burris, “These folks always step up.  Always.  I’m so proud to be part of this amazing team.”