Greenwich Fire Department upgrades to satellite GPS

The Greenwich Fire Department has installed new mobile data browsers to help firefighters obtain information faster about nearby water sources, as well as the locations of the fires they aim to put out.

News 12 Staff

Sep 22, 2008, 10:45 PM

Updated 5,957 days ago

Share:

The Greenwich Fire Department has installed new mobile data browsers to help firefighters obtain information faster about nearby water sources, as well as the locations of the fires they aim to put out.
Previously, each fire truck carried a large binder that contained information like maps and water sources. But, firefighters say using them was time consuming, and they were cumbersome to carry.
In addition to providing quicker, more accurate information to the firefighters, these new GPS satellite systems will also free up the dispatcher service and make each fire truck more self sufficient.
?It's been installed and operating only a few weeks now and it's already helped them find locations to incidents,? says Assistant Chief Robert Kick, of the Greenwich Fire Department. ?Before we would struggle to find a house or a driveway, we don't struggle with that anymore.?
Greenwich is following the lead of Stamford and Norwalk, who have already successfully transitioned to the electronic systems.
Officials say they are also trying to create one Public Safety Dispatch Center, where fire, police and EMS will work together in one building.