April 05--The Cabarrus County Fire Marshal's Office wants to install mobile computer terminal software in local volunteer fire departments' main fire trucks to improve response times.
The $87,100 investment in the fire departments' computers would also help firefighters locate hydrants more quickly.
The software was recommended under a fire study commissioned by Cabarrus County to look at service and how it could be improved. The study showed that real time data was needed to effectively measure fire department response performance and to assist with planning for future fire service delivery.
The new software would place the county's volunteer fire departments on the same system used by the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management Services, said Fire Marshal Steve Langer.
The new software will achieve the data gathering recommendation from the fire study, will increase safety and can help reduce response times. The volunteer departments will be responsible for purchasing the computer and yearly maintenance of the system.
"We have met with departments and brought this up. Only one department had a concern with the ongoing cost," Langer said.
A mapping feature in the software helps to locate the nearest hydrants. There's also an emergency feature that can send signals to the county's communication system.
"It will allow us to be able to get more accurate data on their response times," he said.
Commissioner Chairman Liz Poole said she wants to require that the volunteer departments purchase the necessary hardware to go with the software.
"I would want to require that they have the computer and that they show that they've got some sort of contract to be able to operate it," she said. "If there's no way to pay for the expenses, then we've wasted money by putting this into the system."
Cabarrus County commissioners will vote on whether to purchase the software at their meeting at 6:30 p.m. on April 15 at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center, 65 Church St., SE, Concord.
Contact reporter Karen Cimino Wilson: 704-789-9141.
Copyright 2013 - Independent Tribune, Concord, N.C.
