Top Features of a Great Fire Dispatch App

When dealing with emergencies, dispatching firefighters promptly is of utmost importance. Sometimes, you may have an abundance of responders readily on hand. Other times, many of your firefighters may be at home or unavailable.

In order to optimize your fire response management, you need quick access to real-time data about incidents, responders, apparatuses, and more. Fortunately, you can improve your operations by utilizing a feature-rich fire department dispatch app that provides informed data to improve response times and keep your firefighters accounted for.

Fire Dispatch App Must-Haves

The most critical features to look for in a fire dispatch app are those that put the safety, efficiency, and accountability of your firefighters at the forefront. That said, you'll want to implement a system that includes the following:

  1. On-duty staff visibility – When you know exactly who is currently on duty, you can send available responders to the scene swiftly.
  2. On-duty geofencing – On-duty responders may leave the station unexpectedly on occasion. If you're unaware of their absence, you may assign them to an incident that they're unable to fulfill.Geofencing technology can solve this predicament. By creating a digital fence around your fire department, this technology instantly reveals who is actively awaiting assignments and who is too far from the station based on their smartphone data.
  3. Real-time responder ETA – Once your firefighters are on the move, it's critical to monitor their estimated time of arrival (ETA). The time it takes to travel to the scene of an incident can vary, depending on traffic, weather conditions, and more. Being able to track your firefighters' real-time movements can enhance your end-to-end visibility considerably.
  4. Computer-aided dispatch (CAD) incident alerts – CAD alerts allow dispatchers to quickly identify an incident's status and responder location, as well as other important details. Armed with this information, you can make sure that your personnel reach the correct location and assist the right people on time.
  5. Personnel accountability and apparatus assignments – You never know when an accident could occur with an apparatus or another catastrophic event could impact your responders. A high-quality firefighter app will enable you to maintain complete accountability for all of your personnel and apparatuses in real-time.
  6. Exceptional user interface (UI) – An incident management system with all of the bells and whistles won't do you much good if it's difficult to navigate. When it's easy to use, you can focus on the essential data, rather than wasting time solving software snafus. Thus, it's crucial to look for software with flawless UI.
  7. Device flexibility – Along with these specialized features, you want to make sure your app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, as well as PCs and tablets. This way, you can access the data you need from any device.

Incident Management Technology: Get The Most From Your Fire Dispatch App

A fire dispatch app that puts an accessible UI, computer dispatch systems, geofencing, and responder visibility into action is one you can trust.

Here at Incident Management Technology, our personnel accountability management systems (PAMS) fire dispatch app offers each of these features and more, and it allows you to select the plan that's appropriate for your department's size and station count.

PAMS takes the guesswork out of fire response management once and for all by arming you with updated data and unparalleled visibility. It can be used alongside your existing systems or all on its own.

Are you ready to empower your fire department with real-time data? Schedule your PAMS demo today.