SJFD launches a new alert system to improve emergency response

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph Fire Department has implemented a new alerting system that speeds up the dispatching of emergency calls.

The Westnet alert system was funded $420,000 in ARPA funds. It will help with the city’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating.

The alert system connects with the station's computer-aided dispatch system, and an automated voice dispatch that comes over the speakers in the station is basically a computer voice.

Kurt Fuehrer, chief of training, said the new system will help with the station response times.

"Once the dispatchers get the alert,  they take the information they hear except on their computer screen,  and it automatically sends the alert to the stations without them doing anything else," Fuehrer said. "So they're able to stay on the phone,  gather more information for the call we're going on."

Additionally, Fuehrer said the new alert system has a heart safe tone.

"So what it means is it kind of starts off softly and ramps up in volume and then it gives the announcement," Fuehrer said. "So when the crews are sleeping at night, it doesn't give them that jolt of adrenaline like the old tones did. This is kind of something for their health as well."

Chase Cotter, captain of the communications center, said the new system will help speed up the process for dispatchers.

"They are able to know that the fire station, the appropriate fire station, is already receiving the call type," Cotter said. "So it gives them that kind of time to get the details that they need to give to the firefighters and takes a little bit of stress off of what they do already."

Cotter said the new system will ultimately benefit the citizens.

"This is just getting it that much faster because most of our calls are not emergencies. We don't drive lights and sirens everywhere," Cotter said. "But I mean, if we can pick up five, 10 seconds on our response to a call or someone's hurt, I mean, it's really a huge deal."

Overall, Fuehrer said the new alert system is good for everyone.

"It's good for the citizens. It's good for our employees and it's good for the dispatchers," Fuehrer said.