St. Joseph firefighters will soon have easier access to call information, fire hydrant locations, city building preplans, hazardous waste codes and other items while in their firetrucks. The Fire Department is installing hotspots and tablets in all of its vehicles.
Traditionally, firefighters had to search through binders of building information and hand drawn maps while in route to respond to a call.
"You're trying to find out where you're going and then any information on the building -- you're trying to do all that while you're rolling down the road," Lamar said.
The Active 911 app uses Google map imagery and overlays data from the Fire Department and Joint Communications Center.
When a firetruck is assigned to a call, the call information appears on the tablet in just that firetruck. That way, crews can easily see the details dispatch received on the call, the address, cross streets and building preplans, which include layouts.
Lamar said the Active 911 app will make processes more efficient for firefighters responding to calls. Firefighters often have to ask dispatch at the Communications Center to repeat addresses or provide other information, he said. The app will provide information so crews don't have to contact the communications center as frequently.
"They'll have it right at their fingertips," Lamar said.