Phoenix Fire Department Regional Dispatch Center
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The Phoenix Fire Department Regional Dispatch Center (PFDRDC), also referred to as the Phoenix Regional Dispatch Center, is the fire dispatching center for the Phoenix Fire Department and approximately 26 jurisdictions surrounding the Phoenix metropolitan area. All dispatchers are emergency medical dispatch certified and able to provide help over the phone when needed.[1]
When a person dials 911 within the Phoenix metropolitan area, the call initially gets connected to their city's police dispatch center. If the police dispatcher determines that the call is a fire department matter, the call gets transferred to the Phoenix Regional Dispatch Center. If fire services are needed, the PFDRDC dispatcher will dispatch the closest available fire and medical crews to the caller's location, regardless of department or city boundaries. This style of dispatching is available due to a partnership between neighboring agencies known as the Regional Automatic Aid System.[2]
The Phoenix Regional Dispatch Center is run 24/7 by a Battalion Chief, a shift supervisor, a lead dispatcher, and dispatchers who are cross-trained in positions within the dispatch center.[3]
Dispatchers are able to send assignments out to fire and medical crews using a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system installed in each unit vehicle.[1] The CAD is equipped with GPS software that allows dispatchers to send the closest units to incidents and advise callers of how far out help is from their location.