New technology will help the Cincinnati Fire Department

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - New equipment now in use is expected to help Cincinnati firefighters when the bell rings.

It's not trucks, hoses or ladders, but software. Fire officials unveiled the new tech at the Cincinnati Fire Museum January 26.

Every piece of Cincinnati fire apparatus is now equipped with a GPS locator and a cell phone modem. Dispatchers now know the exact location of every fire truck and ambulance.

Assistant Chief Anton Turley said, "Before, we would dispatch fire units based on the location of the fire station. So neither the dispatcher or our dispatch system knew exactly where our firetrucks were located."

Regardless of what firehouse they're based out of. It's all part of a $2 million computer-assisted dispatch system upgrade. For generations, all the fire apparatus carried binders that had information about the buildings in their district, where to park, where the stairwells were, that sort of thing. Now, all that information is online and they can find it with the push of a button.

Assistant Chief Turley said, "So, what it means for the citizen is that we will get there faster. So, if there's a heart attack, a medical emergency, time is of the essence. Seconds count. Being able to get on the scene faster and render that aid faster will mean a better outcome for the patient."

The new system will also show dispatchers who is working on each apparatus. Similar systems are currently in place in Columbus and Toledo.

The system went online in Cincinnati Tuesday, January 24.