How Phoenix Fire’s 911 dispatch center connects you to help all summer long

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — From Monsoon to First Alert heat, the summer is a busy season for the Phoenix Fire Department, and especially for its 911 dispatch center.

The dispatch centers prepare all year long for the summer, especially for when Monsoon rolls around.

Todd Keller, PFD public information officer, said the dispatch center finds power in numbers.

“We will over-staff, and make sure all those calls get out to those fire stations so those firefighters can respond,” Keller said.

The Phoenix Fire Department has two dispatch centers that cater to most jurisdictions in the Valley, from Peoria to Chandler. Keller said both dispatch centers are filled with advanced technology and systems to make sure help is always on hand for emergencies like Monsoon.

“They’re highly trained, they know what’s coming every summer, and they prepare for this,” Keller said. “When an emergency is happening, they will dispatch the appropriate amount of crews and go from there if the situation evolves.”

Another emergency on the department’s radar is the extreme heat. With First Alert Weather Days ahead, Keller said the dispatch center has already seen an increase in heat emergency calls.

Knowing this season can present a lot of different emergencies at once, Keller assured Phoenix Fire’s systems are advanced, vast and hard to overload. However, if there’s an emergency that brings in a flood of calls at once, Keller explained what happens from there.

“We have a mutual aid system where if there isn’t someone close enough, there’s another fire station just a round the corner from them will respond,” Keller said. “If that first truck is out, another can easily get shifted in and eliminate any further wait time.”

The department is emphasizing folks to use their better judgement this summer because that helps eliminate any kind of queue on its 911 line.

For more help and information, the Phoenix Fire Department said you can send them a message on any of their social media platforms.

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