KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Kissimmee Fire Department has activated a new Fire Station Alerting (FSA) system designed to significantly improve emergency response times and enhance firefighter safety.
The Phoenix G2 alerting system allows emergency crews to respond faster by dispatching multiple calls simultaneously, saving valuable seconds during emergencies. For residents, this means quicker emergency responses.
“The dispatcher simply types the information into a computer. It is then sent to all of our stations simultaneously, sent to our radios and sent to our cell phones simultaneously,” Kissimmee Fire Department Deputy Chief Joe Leone said.
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Dispatchers enter emergency details into the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, which transmits text-to-speech alerts to designated stations in less than a second.
“The way it was done in the past is that the 911 caller would get a hold an operator, and they still do, however, that operator would then have to manually enter it into the computer and then have to manually dispatch it over the air. And that takes time, and in every emergency, seconds do count,” Leone said.
Smart in-station technology features LED lights that change color according to the unit being dispatched. Display panels provide real-time call information, and turnout time clocks in each apparatus bay help crews monitor and improve response times.
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“If they miss that dispatch, then their signs all around the station that tell them exactly where they’re going, what units are due, and there’s also some color coding throughout the system on monitors that tell them exactly what units are due to that call,” Leone explained.
The system will also help firefighters rest more as it provides a setting for those who are sleeping to receive calls only for their specific unit.
“This new alerting system is a game-changer for our department and the community we serve. Faster notifications mean quicker responses, which can save lives and property,” said Fire Chief Jim Walls in a press release.