OC Fire Dept Unveils New Communication System

By Mrs. I. Perl

Recently, the fire department has announced a new sophisticated communication system that will be implemented to connect the various emergency agencies operating in Orange County.

This system was designed with the goal of linking all local agencies in the area, enabling them to collaborate and assist one another during emergencies. The system is operated by the central Orange County 911 Emergency Center and connects all fire, EMS, and police departments within the county.

Until now, the county operated on a platform by the “Mobile Rover" company. After the company announced that they would be closing their doors and ceasing operations, the county signed a new contract with the "I Am Responding" platform. 

This advanced platform has a unique code for which agency which grants registered volunteers access to the system. When an incident arises and local agencies require assistance from surrounding areas, a notification with all the relevant details is sent out to all volunteers. The system calculates the current location of each member and how long it would take for them to reach the fire station, aiding in coordination.

County officials have added a range of highly sophisticated technological features to the new system, including an automation that calculates which fire department should be called for backup, based on geographic proximity to the emergency scene, among other factors. It also provides all necessary information that a member might need when responding to a call, including information about the specific building, the location of water pumps, and other information that is critical when every minute counts.

Last week, an "administrative training" session was held at the headquarters of the Orange County 911 Dispatch Center, where the leaders of all local agencies gathered, and were briefed on the new system and its functions, which, with Hashem’s help, will greatly assist in handling large fires and other emergencies.