By Clark Stork

Melfort updates fire dispatch technology

Nov 20, 2017 | 11:22 AM

Prior to installing a new dispatch system at the Melfort fire hall, Chief Paul See couldn’t pinpoint how many members were responding to a call, but a new technology is about to change that.

A new online program is connected to the members’ cellphones and shows where they are and if they are available to respond. See said every second counts in their line of work so this system is important.

“It also tells us how long firefighters are going to be getting to the hall, how many are coming, if someone’s not available it will show up. The first responding members at the hall can look at the screen and know the numbers right off the bat of how many they have,” See said.

Up until now See said they did waste time waiting for more assistance.

“If you are sitting at the hall and you’re waiting and hoping more people are coming and they’re not, you are just wasting valuable time,” he said.

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He said up until now they only knew after text communication with the members if they could respond.

The system works through the dispatch centre in Prince Albert with a one-time fee of $2,200. The city pays a yearly subscription of $750. It also provides a map of every hydrant in the city. The technology will soon be installed in the fire trucks. Currently, the detachment uses paper maps.

Nipawin, Humboldt and St. Brieux departments have also changed over to the same system. 

clark.stork@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @ClarkStork