911 COMMUNICATIONS & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
The Communications & Program Development Division has 2 core functions: (i) providing the Region with 911 services through its Communications Center, and (ii) providing the SJRFD with a support system in program development.
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Personnel
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Position #
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Manager of Communications & Program Dev.
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1
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Communications Supervisor
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1
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Full-time 911 Dispatchers
Relief Dispatchers
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8
4
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TOTAL
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14
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Communications
The 911 Center is dedicated to preserving and protecting the security of all citizens with the fastest and most efficient response to emergencies.
8 full-time Dispatchers (and relief Dispatchers) housed in Central Fire Station at Fort Townshend provide the 24-hour a day 911 Emergency System to approximately 182,000 citizens on the Northeast Avalon Peninsula. In addition, the Dispatchers receive calls from the general public requesting assistance or from those who have enquiries in relation to fire safety.
The 911 Communications Center answers emergency calls for the following Agencies:
- Fire
- Police
- Ambulance (Medical)
- Poison Control
- Coast Guard
- Crisis Center
In addition, the 911 Communications Center provides monitoring services to:
- Provincial Alarm System – the ESC 8100 is connected to numerous public buildings, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. within the SJRFD’s jurisdiction.
- Lifeline Monitoring System/Emergency Alert Foundation – lending assistance and aid to those “higher risk” individuals, like the elderly who live alone and persons with medical conditions which limit their independence and movement.
- TTY Hearing Impaired Telephone System – hearing impaired citizens are able to reach 911 services through a dedicated TTY telephone system.
All Fire Department-related calls within the Region (and its 6 outlying jurisdictions) are handled directly by 911 Dispatchers as part of the SJRFD. In 2007, the 911 Communications Center answered over 23,000 service calls, nearly 4300 of those specifically for fire response. All other calls (police, medical, etc) are promptly forwarded to the appropriate agency.
The 911 Communications Center will remain fully functional in the event of a shutdown crisis in the building or area – there is the added security back-up of a Redundant 911 Center located in the Mount Pearl Fire Station, which is designed to be operational within seconds of a critical event.
Program Development
Program Development consists of conducting detailed analytical and statistical work for the management and operating processes within the SJRFD. Such areas include but are not limited to formulating and deploying policies and procedures, operational audits on SJRFD Divisions, recruitment, pre-fire planning, and collective bargaining.
