LORAIN — The city’s fire department dispatch is now handled by the county’s 911 service center.
The switch started last Tuesday, Assistant Fire Chief Matt Homolya said, with the fire department staffing a backup dispatcher for about a week to ensure the change was as smooth as possible.
“It was a big move for us. We wanted to make sure that we did it right and make sure that all the information that we needed to pass onto them was in place and the radio infrastructure and things like that were taken care of, and it all takes time,” Homolya said. “Unfortunately, particularly in government, it takes years.”
The move was roughly two years in the making, something Homolya started when he was appointed chief. Homolya, who stepped down as chief in December, said in the years leading up to the switch, Lorain Fire has improved its radio infrastructure, with the county’s help. He said the department plans to upgrade its mobile radios, funds permitting, but the infrastructure was key.
