SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- The fires burning in the Bay Area have magnified new and existing problems with emergency alert and communication systems. After so much loss of life and property during the 2017 North Bay Fires, Sonoma County started working to improve their … [Read more...]

COVID-19 is preventing field technicians from entering buildings where they need to test more accurate 911 location technology. Implementing better technology for determining the location of 911 wireless callers inside buildings has been a challenge for years. GPS is … [Read more...]

Frontline firefighters from some of the state's smallest brigades are urging the NSW Rural Fire Service to fast-track upgrades to equipment and communications which were revealed by last season's bushfires to have potentially deadly failures. Key points: Some volunteers are … [Read more...]

After close contact with a family member, an emergency medical dispatcher has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Joint Information Center. To prevent further contamination, the 911 Center, along with personnel, will be temporarily relocated to the Guam Fire … [Read more...]

Angela Stefkovich and her friends needed help. She called 911 expecting to get it. “Hi. We’re at River Creek, the club in the back,” the 16-year-old said, her voice cracking with panic. “We’re like, all swimming in the river. We had a friend swimming and he’s under the water, … [Read more...]

In a move that’s been many months in the making, Harvey laid off its skeleton crew of emergency dispatchers in preparation for the city’s transition to an outsourced dispatch model that officials expect to reap significant cost savings for the cash-strapped community. Mayor … [Read more...]

A Cincinnati 911 dispatcher has been suspended for allegedly failing to send help to a man suffering a stroke last month, according to reports. City Manager Patrick Duhaney, in a Monday email to City Council, called the dispatcher’s supposed failure, "a serious neglect of … [Read more...]

SALT LAKE CITY — Some of Utah’s 911 dispatch centers are understaffed, take too long to respond to calls and hire employees that lack the necessary certifications, according to a recent legislative audit that Senate President Stuart Adams called “troubling.” Presenting before … [Read more...]

Oakmont officials want to review the use of borough fire department sirens in response to resident complaints. Councilwoman Leah Powers requested a log of the sirens’ uses and for what calls Monday night following a discussion with resident Jill Weeks. Weeks showed council … [Read more...]

The union representing city of Spokane fire dispatchers is once again at odds with leaders of the county’s new 911 dispatch center. The dispatch center, Spokane Regional Emergency Communications, or SREC, switched to a new computer system last week that limits the role of city … [Read more...]