Firefighters

Bring Structure to your Fire and Rescue Response

The Fire Priority Dispatch System (FPDS) is the most comprehensive, flexible fire and rescue system serving the ever-evolving needs of Firefighters the world over.

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Handle even more emergencies with confidence

The FPDS is a proven, comprehensive approach to Emergency Fire Dispatch. A safe, effective response begins with your communication center. The protocols that underpin the FPDS help Emergency Dispatchers efficiently gather information and quickly send the right help. And while they wait for First Responders to arrive, FPDS gives Emergency Dispatchers the tools to lead callers through potentially lifesaving actions.

Containing protocols for common fire scenarios (structure fire, HAZMAT, vehicle fire) as well as protocols found nowhere else in the industry for backcountry and other disasters, FPDS helps each Emergency Dispatcher manage extraordinary and uncommon scenarios with confidence, even if they’ve never taken that call before.

Listen to the EFD Protocols in Action

Learn How Other Agencies Use FPDS

Serving over 800 Emergency Fire Dispatch Centers, FPDS is the most used system in the world for fire-call handling.

Natural Disaster Protocols

Catastrophic events result in record numbers of callers needing assistance. FPDS helps Emergency Dispatchers triage calls and even take on a rescuer role during extraordinary events.

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Be Ready For Every Situation, No Matter What

Get your team set up for success with FPDS and be ready for whatever happens in your community.

Go Beyond Fire

Life safety, property conservation, and incident stabilization are the top three priorities of FPDS. FPDS makes those priorities a reality through its proven protocols for all kinds of emergencies, including backcountry fires, chemical suicides, and natural disasters.

Empower Your Emergency Fire Dispatchers

FPDS protocols give Emergency Dispatchers the tools to provide appropriate and potentially life-saving instructions to callers experiencing emergencies. FPDS also has medical instructions built into the system, helping Emergency Dispatchers walk callers through rendering aid such as bleeding control, unblocking airways, and other pre-arrival care.

Enhance Your Disaster Management

In the event of extreme weather or disaster scenarios, a normalized response may not be possible. The Weather/Disaster Situation protocol allows agencies to classify and log calls as they come in, then Emergency Dispatchers can send First Responders to prioritized calls as resources become available.

Exclusive Fight for Your Life Instructions

Available nowhere else in the world, these instructions help Emergency Dispatchers guide callers through proven best responses to high-acuity situations that can potentially improve outcomes.

Critical Safety Interventions for Callers and Bystanders

Whether your Emergency Dispatcher is brand new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, FPDS’ protocols are designed to aid them in direct caller or bystander critical safety intervention, helping them deliver the highest standard of care and safety in the industry.

Improve Your ISO Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) Class

The FSRS lists Computer-Aided Dispatch facilities as a specific evaluation point when determining your Public Protection Classification. By using FPDS, your department can receive a better PPC than one without a Computer-Aided Dispatch system, leading to lower insurance premiums and improved readiness.

Quite a few of our employees came from the field and understood triage for medical calls, but didn't think we needed it for fire calls. It took a lot of change management, but once we made the change to FPDS it's been amazing.

Angela Potenziano, Airport Operator Manager, Tampa International Airport, Hillsborough County Aviation, Tampa, FL

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We dispatch for the whole Ventura County and for the most part we have a unified regional response across the county. For those that are different we're able to utilize FPDS to adjust responses for different departments as needed, and it's nice to have that flexibility.

Jordan Roberts, ENP, Assistant Emergency Communications Manager, FGC, Camarillo, CA

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Our Fire Chiefs had some hesitation about the protocols and how they work, and thought response times would go up. We talked with them about how they would receive much more information prior to arriving at the scene. Due to the efficiencies of the dispatchers we've seen a reduction in response times overall. They're able to process the calls faster with the questions right there for them. Those of us responding on the calls can literally make tactical decisions prior to arriving on the scene.

Ron Two Bulls, Battalion Chief and Protocol Coordinator, Northwest Central Dispatch System, Arlington Heights, IL

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See FPDS in Action

Don’t just take our word for it – we’ll show you exactly how FPDS’ exclusive protocols can help your center or agency give the best response for any scenario.

Increase the value of your emergency response while reducing your liability costs.

Questions? We Have Answers.

Will protocols slow down the time to dispatch?

The Fire Priority Dispatch System cuts down on Emergency Dispatchers fishing for irrelevant, time-wasting information. When following the protocols, the right resources can be sent faster, giving responders essential information while en route, saving valuable time and keeping crews safer while they work. The latest data obtained from our data center states that the average time to dispatch for those incidents where life is immediately at risk is 57 seconds, with the highest acuity calls being dispatched in 29 seconds.

What information will fire and rescue crews get that they aren’t already getting?

Your team can expect to get more complete descriptions of the status of the scene, while callers will get Post-Dispatch Instructions to keep callers safe and help prepare for the arrival of the First Responders. Protocols also save time by guiding Emergency Dispatchers to only ask questions that yield critical information that Firefighters need.

What impact will this have on our response capabilities?

A fast response doesn’t mean much if you’re sending the wrong equipment. We work with you before implementation to set guidelines that maximize resource utility. From there, the software guides the Emergency Dispatcher to send the exact response you’ve specified for the given situation.

How can structured Emergency Dispatch keep up with fluid, dangerous situations like wildfires?

The latest version of FPDS allows for the rapid changing of Determinant Codes and response configurations at the agency level based on changing Forest Fire Danger Levels and Fire Weather. With a plan in place, your Emergency Dispatchers will be able to offer up-to-date, effective instructions to callers, even when a situation is fluid.