Kissimmee Fire Department held a ceremonial “wet down and push back” for its Engine 11 at Fire Station 11 Tuesday. (Photo/Ken Jackson)
When you’re in fire service or a first responder, the earlier you can respond, the better.
Thanks to a new fire station alerting system, there are no surprises for Kissimmee firefighters and paramedics, from the time they even walk out of the station.
Members of the Kissimmee Fire Department are now prepared for all calls minutes before they climb into their vehicles, now that the department is using the Phoenix G2 alert system. It automates their calls and displays them on screens throughout KFD’s stations. With this, response starts literally the moment a station receives the call.
The system sends different alert tones for different calls (fire, medical, squad) and keys different colored LED lighting in the station, and multiple calls can be sent simultaneously.
Prior to Phoenix G2’s use, responders wouldn’t know to what or where they were responding until they reached their vehicle.
Kissimmee Fire Chief Jim Walls calls Phoenix G2 a “game changer for our department and the community we serve.”
“Faster notifications mean quicker responses, which can save lives and property,” he said. “Before all you had was what was in the truck, or you would hear the tones, they would announce the call and they’d walk out to the truck to see what the call is. Now they can ‘see’ the call, and see what the level of the call is.”
Inside the station, responders are never more than a room away from a screen or TV that details the call, and depending on whether it’s an office, the dining area or the bunkhouse, it can be customized to display and sound off all calls or just those for specific units.
Cellphones can be added to the app and get the alerts as well. When a dispatcher enters call information, Phoenix G2 simultaneously sends it to all the appropriate devices, stations, and radios, providing the fastest possible notification.
“Every second counts,” said Deputy Fire Chief Joe Leone. “The calls are automated with a calm, clear, concise voice. So if (the responders) get up in the middle of night, maybe they were a little drowsy and didn’t hear it clearly, they can check this screen as they’re walking out. So the big thing is, before you even hit that door, you know where you’re going and what you’re walking into.”
The system also starts a two-minute countdown on screen, which is now KFD’s “turn-out time” goal.
Leone said KFD looks forward to getting the data soon about its first month of use to see how it’s benefiting call times —which benefits residents.
Phoenix G2, along with adding a fifth fire engine to the fleet—KFD held a ceremonial “wet down and push back” ceremony for it Tuesday at Station 11—came just in time for Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5-11.
