AGENCIES TEST DISASTER COMMUNICATION; CELLULAR PHONE FIRM TRIES SYSTEM IN MOCK EMERGENCY.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

A mobile communications system was deployed this week near Castaic Lake during an eight-hour drill conducted by local emergency-services agencies and a cellular phone company.

The drill marked the first time a wireless phone company has worked with all local public agencies to test communications in a mock emergency, L.A. Cellular Phone Co. officials said.

``I don't know if this will help to put out fires quicker, but now everyone will be able to communicate better,'' Officer Lester Boal, spokesman for the Emergency Operations Center in Los Angeles, said about the system.

A brush fire near the Golden State Freeway in Castaic and a spill of hazardous chemicals were simulated for the drill in which response came from county and city law enforcement agencies and fire departments, as well as the California Highway Patrol.

As part of the exercise, representative of the agencies tested how fast they could set up a command post and checked the quality of communications among the public agencies.

``From our perspective, this is a good solution,'' Boal said. ``One of the main problems during emergencies is communication, so this helps.''

The mock chemical spill came during a simulated traffic crash. Information was routed from a command post set up near the freeway to a boatload of officers on Castaic Lake.

``We are prepared for just about any type of an emergency,'' said Steve Crosby, L.A. Cellular's director of disaster recovery.

In an emergency, the company's Cellular on Wheels mobile unit will be deployed after clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration. The CHP will simultaneously use its portable incident-command package - a laptop computer, a fax and copy machine, a color printer and cellular and land-line connections.

Boal said it can take one to three days to deploy the joint system because of FAA and Federal Communications Commission regulations. Once the governor declares a state of emergency, however, the system can be immediately deployed, he said.

``During the Northridge Earthquake we deployed 2,000 phones to the Red Cross, FEMA and other agencies to help communications. We want to be prepared for other emergencies,'' said Crosby.

Crosby said similar communications efforts have gone into effect around the country during disasters such as the Oklahoma City bombing, as well as hurricanes and earthquakes.

``It's cellular to the rescue when it comes to solving the incompatibility among existing radio frequencies of the various agencies,'' said Red Payne, developer of the mobile cell system.

``Cellular phones are often seen as a means to keep in touch with business associates or family and friends. However, our emergency simulation shows that wireless phones may provide the only means of communication between public agencies in emergency situations,'' Payne said.

Representatives said the command posts cost thousands of dollars and hundreds of manpower hours to set up.

``L.A. Cellular participates, on a regular basis, in emergencies such as earthquakes and fires,'' said Nerissa Villamater, a company spokeswoman.

The company, she added, approached officials about the project earlier this year.