12 fire agencies sharing $1M dispatch system
February 7th, 2011 @ 11:59am
By Associated Press
OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- Twelve fire agencies have begun sharing an automated dispatch system that officials say should cut the time it takes to get emergency responders to the scene of a fire.

Ogden Deputy Fire Chief Chad Tucker tells the Standard-Examiner of Ogden that administrators are working kinks out of the new $1 million system, called First-In.

Weber Area Dispatch executive director Tina Roylance says the program could save 30 to 40 seconds per call -- and seconds can save lives.

The old system required dispatchers to scroll through several different computer screens to respond to a call.

The new system sends out the basics of a call to relevant stations, pagers and radios all at once.

Area fire chiefs won a $700,000 federal grant to help pay for the new system.