Fire Dispatchers
One of the most important tasks required of any fire department communication center is the receipt and proper transfer of mission critical information to field based emergency service personnel. Experience has shown that one of the leading factors supporting ineffective and unsafe fireground operations is the lack of competent and effective emergency communication. In Englewood we are privileged to have a staff of highly trained, professional dispatchers that possess the skills and knowledge necessary to ensure our members are afforded an exceptional level of emergency communications at fire and incidents. In addition to their fire dispatch duties, these employees assumed dispatch responsibilities for the fire department based emergency medical service in November of 2009. The exemplary manner in which these personnel have embraced this task has significantly enhanced the operational effectiveness of the new EMS service and formed a consistent and excellent foundation of effective fire department communication at our most critical level of service delivery.
Our staff of five dispatchers work rotating 8 hour shifts of 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, 4:00 pm – 12:00 pm, and 12:00 pm – 8:00 am. For a total of 35 hours per week. Their training consists of 40 hours of basic 911 Dispatch certification, and an intensive in house training and testing process that is provided by our Training and Dispatch officers. The city’s residents and the members of our fire suppression and EMS divisions are well served by this professional, highly proficient group of dispatchers.