Saco, Biddeford fire department dispatch centers increase efficiency

HOME > NEWS > PEPPERRELL POST ARCHIVES

The following article is an archive of the Pepperrell Post. Please note that the information in it may have changed since the article was published. To read the most up-to-date articles, see the current issue of the Pepperrell Post



A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	October, 2009	Return to newsletter index

The Biddeford and Saco Fire Departments are making changes in the dispatch system making them more operationally alike to increase dispatch efficiency.

The fire departments have strived since 2003 to make the department operations on the fireground the same through joint policies, procedures, equipment, and training. The changes to the dispatch function are the next logical step in improving fire and rescue service. The departments will empower dispatchers to send not only their own city's apparatus, but that of the other city simultaneously to structure fires, saving precious time.

Currently, when either city receives a call for a structure fire, the call taker dispatches their city equipment, then calls the other city's dispatch to have the mutual aid equipment respond. That city dispatcher then dispatches their equipment to the fire. Under the new system, when a dispatcher enters the call reason "structure fire" into the database they will simultaneously activate both cities station alerts, activate both stations house lights, and transmit the call for service over a common dispatch frequency so both departments are alerted.

To increase firefighter safety, the plan also calls for changes in radio frequency use. Both departments have agreed to share all available radio frequencies. Both departments will be dispatched over a common frequency which will use the City of Biddeford's antenna located on Hill Street extension for broadcast. This 180-foot tower is superior in height to the Saco antenna on Storer Street. This will increase range and improve signal power.

In compliance with National Fire Protection Association guidelines, after being dispatched, fire units will switch to operational frequencies to communicate on the fireground. This will prevent the disruption of communication between firefighters working inside buildings. All fire department radios in both cities will be programmed and named alike, so when fireground commanders or dispatchers assign additional frequencies there will be no confusion.

Some of the changes have already been implemented with a complete implementation scheduled by November. The plan also calls for dispatchers in both cities to have access to the other city's live database. This will provide a backup dispatch system should the need arise.