Port Moody Fire & Rescue moves to new computerized dispatch system
For immediate release—March 25, 2002
Vancouver-Port Moody Fire & Rescue has become the second emergency agency in British Columbia to transition onto a new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system that greatly enhances fire-rescue and other emergency operations. Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services, the first agency, went "live" on the system in September 2001. VF&RS also dispatches for Whistler, Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Sechelt, Halfmoon Bay and Pender Harbour fire departments.
Emergency calls for Port Moody are now being dispatched by Vancouver Fire & Rescue (VF&RS) until both agencies transition into E-Comm in July. Previously, the Port Moody police department dispatched Port Moody firefighters, and information pertinent to emergency response was in paper form.
Port Moody moved to VF&RS on February 11, 2002 in a collaborative effort that involved technical experts from Port Moody Fire & Rescue, Vancouver Fire & Rescue and E-Comm.
The first call logged for Port Moody fire, a medical-aid call, came at 1313hrs that same day. As of March 25, 2002 there have been 54 events dispatched for Port Moody Fire & Rescue.
"The Port Moody Fire Department has been looking forward to the benefits of this new system and now that it is in place, we feel that it has exceeded our expectations," said Deputy Fire Chief Patrick Downey. "We look forward to the next phase of this project which includes transitioning Port Moody and Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services into the E-Comm facility."
Downey also added that the use of the new CAD system would increase public safety in Port Moody. "Our firefighters now have access to information that will not only help us better protect the public and their property, but also the firefighters themselves. Ultimately that makes for a better and safer community."
The PRC Altaris® CAD is designed to provide swift and easy access to a wide range of information critical to emergency response.
The CAD includes a Geographical Information System (GIS) that quickly pinpoints residential and business phone numbers and addresses, detailed street maps and other municipal-specific information, as well as images of floor plans and access to a chemical and hazardous waste materials database. Through the CAD system, information can be transmitted immediately from the dispatcher to emergency responders in the field.
The system has been outfitted with all of Port Moody's local information, including street maps, building location information and hazardous materials information. Previously, this information was only available in paper form but can now be accessed in seconds.
The project also spearheaded the development of consistent response terminology that is being adopted throughout the GVRD. This will greatly enhance the ability for fire departments to operate together in mutual aid scenarios as well as major disasters.
Future CAD transitions include the Port Moody Police, the Vancouver Police and the BC Ambulance Service. This will make it easier to share call information between the agencies, as Police, Fire and Ambulance frequently respond to the same incident. Having all emergency response teams on the same platform will prove invaluable in the event of a major disaster.
For more information, contact:
Jody Robertson
Corporate Communications
604-215-4956 (direct)
604-640-1342(pager)
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E-Comm provides emergency communications for more than two million residents of southwest British Columbia through a 9-1-1 call centre, Wide-Area Radio Network for police, fire and ambulance personnel, and dispatch operations for Vancouver Police, the Deas Island Highway Patrol, the Port Mann Highway Patrol, and RCMP detachments at UBC, Bowen Island, Whistler, Pemberton (including the Tribal Police), Gibsons, and Sechelt.