Renfrew Fire Department strikes deal with Brockville to improve dispatch services

[IdleMonitor]

A new deal for dispatching firefighters in Renfrew is all about improving reliability and safety.

Town Council approved a 3-year deal with the Brockville Fire Department on Tuesday, November 7th, who will begin directly sending dispatch orders to Renfrew’s firefighters over the internet sometime in 2024.

Fire Chief Mike Guest explained to council that the current system through the Renfrew Central Ambulance Communications Center has quite a few different steps, using the radio tower in Foymount to bounce instructions between the primary dispatchers, local dispatchers, and firefighters.

Renfrew Fire Department strikes deal with Brockville to improve dispatch services

A new deal for dispatching firefighters in Renfrew is all about improving reliability and safety. Town Council...

www.renfrewtoday.ca

November 07, 2023 - Town of Renfrew Council- Special Meeting​

Town of Arnprior currently has Fire Dispatch going through Brockville. All other communities use Renfrew CACC for dispatch services. So with this, Renfrew won't even be using the current dispatch centre that's in it's own town.

 

[PriorMike]

It's been brought up for over a decade that the fire radio system in the county needs to be replaced, but the county has not bothered to do anything about it.

So, those townships that can will find other options, and the CACC will lose the dispatch contracts and the money that goes with it.

 

[Gymbag]

It's been brought up for over a decade that the fire radio system in the county needs to be replaced, but the county has not bothered to do anything about it.

So, those townships that can will find other options, and the CACC will lose the dispatch contracts and the money that goes with it.

If you are in a two-tiered municipality ie County vs townships, towns, cities. Firefighting is a lower tier responsibility so it would be up to each individual municipality to look after dispatch. Granted a lot of municipalities will ”share” dispatch.

 

[PriorMike]

If you are in a two-tiered municipality ie County vs townships, towns, cities. Firefighting is a lower tier responsibility so it would be up to each individual municipality to look after dispatch. Granted a lot of municipalities will ”share” dispatch.

Which most of the municipalities in Renfrew County do by having a contract with the Renfrew CACC.

The problem is that the 'system' needs to be replaced, which who knows if and when that might happen.