Bloomington Fire

[fwfdengine2]

Bloomington Fire is now using automated dispatch by Phoenix G2.

Sounds like as of now their fire Main is in use for regular unit to dispatch and their command channel has the automated voice paging.

 

[AAFC]

I'm not exactly sure what this new automated system is good for.... other than making a bunch of extra noise? The old traditional tones still go out like normal, but then this automated voice specifically calls out each station number (which is redundant since that is what the original tones are for in the first place) and then EVERY piece of equipment from each station is specifically called out. Weird. I wonder how firefighters got by for the last 50 years without having each piece of equipment specifically called out by name for every fire call ever toned out? lol.

A live dispatcher (person) still has to take the call and enter it into CAD, normal tones go out, then this automated system makes a bunch of extra unneeded noise, and then calls out each specific piece of equipment buy name from each station..... As soon as a chief or fire truck calls into dispatch as "in route" the live dispatcher (person) takes back over and the automated dispatch system is never heard from again. So, other than making a bunch of extra noise, taking extra time to dispatch a call by naming all equipment from every station, then having the live dispatcher take back over again, what exactly is Bloomington dispatch "saving" by using this automated system?

This is a genuine question.... I am honestly wondering what advantage this system has over the old system? (which was already ran through CAD) It doesn't seem like it saves the dispatcher (person) anything, and only makes dispatching an emergency call take even longer...

 

[fwfdengine2]

The time saving process isn’t seen by us. It’s the call processing time that is saved.

Old system example. Dispatcher takes call, fills info into CAD while talking to caller. Finishes call and then dispatches tones and speaks on radio.

New system. Dispatcher takes call, once address and call type are selected then the automated system dispatches the tones and voice while the dispatcher and caller continue to talk. This have been proven to save seconds up to minutes in calls with lots of details (door codes, medicals in vehicles, complicated locations, unique situations, etc.) meanwhile the automated voice dispatches a general call type to get responders moving.

The system is designed for staffed fire departments hence BFD’s issue with it dispatching every unit. Same thing with SLP calling their rigs “busy/unavailable” so cad doesn’t send the unstaffed rig a run and with EPFD calling stations available or off shift. Meanwhile edina and Richfield don’t have this issue because they only use the same vehicles every day.

 

[ofd8001]

And its always possible they are trying different things to see what works best for the nature of their operation.

While it may not be obvious to listeners, it is a safe bet there is a method to their madness.

 

[stmills]

Data I have seen on this is an average of 30 seconds saved per call - crews enroute an average of 30 seconds earlier and on scene 30 seconds earlier.

 

[AAFC]

The time saving process isn’t seen by us. It’s the call processing time that is saved.

Old system example. Dispatcher takes call, fills info into CAD while talking to caller. Finishes call and then dispatches tones and speaks on radio.

New system. Dispatcher takes call, once address and call type are selected then the automated system dispatches the tones and voice while the dispatcher and caller continue to talk. This have been proven to save seconds up to minutes in calls with lots of details (door codes, medicals in vehicles, complicated locations, unique situations, etc.) meanwhile the automated voice dispatches a general call type to get responders moving.

The system is designed for staffed fire departments hence BFD’s issue with it dispatching every unit. Same thing with SLP calling their rigs “busy/unavailable” so cad doesn’t send the unstaffed rig a run and with EPFD calling stations available or off shift. Meanwhile edina and Richfield don’t have this issue because they only use the same vehicles every day.

That makes sense, thanks for the explanation.

Data I have seen on this is an average of 30 seconds saved per call - crews enroute an average of 30 seconds earlier and on scene 30 seconds earlier.

Very interesting... when every second counts, 30 seconds could easily mean life or death. Thanks for the reply.

 

[stmills]

While likely not the case in the single agency centers but in the bigger county centers this can free up a dispatcher- especially in the centers where call taker and dispatcher are separate- call taker enters the triggering info call is sent crews are getting to the truck, call taker finishes call crews in some areas go enroute on the computer but enroute is the first time a dispatcher may have to touch the call.