Citizens call a fire dispatcher to report fires and medical emergencies, and the dispatcher responds appropriately. He may also respond to fire alarms that, when activated, automatically notify the fire department. He usually uses a two-way radio, a cell phone, or a computer to notify available fire and emergency personnel of the problems and their location. If additional emergency personnel are needed, the dispatcher is usually expected to notify them as well.
When a fire dispatcher receives a distress call, the first thing he usually does is assess the situation’s urgency. If the call can be handled through verbal communication, he is usually expected to walk the caller through the steps necessary to resolve the issue. If the fire is contained outside in a barbecue pit or the medical emergency is not life threatening, this may be the case.
If the crisis necessitates the assistance of emergency personnel, the fire dispatcher is usually responsible for dispatching the necessary personnel to the scene. He usually stays on the phone line after dispatching the call to reassure the caller. He may offer medical or first-aid advice, as well as instructions on how to stay safe until help arrives. He may also advise the caller to make sure that others in the area are safe.
A great deal of attention to detail is usually required of a good fire dispatcher. He is usually required to monitor the locations of emergency response units via computerized tracking monitors in addition to carefully listening to the facts provided by callers. He is generally expected to contact all units in a timely manner if local units are unavailable or if units from neighboring areas are required due to the scope of the emergency. A fire dispatcher is usually required to know how to quickly alert other agencies, such as civil defense and public works, if the emergency poses a threat to the general public.
This job typically necessitates meticulous file and record maintenance as well as a high level of secrecy. The fire dispatcher usually keeps a list of key personnel’s contact information and has access to sensitive and personal information. If automatic fire alarms are used in his geographic area of responsibility, he is usually responsible for ensuring that they are maintained on a regular basis. He might be in charge of incident reports submitted by various emergency personnel.
A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required for the position of fire dispatcher. Good communication skills, as well as the ability to remain calm under pressure, are highly desirable. On-the-job training is provided in most fire dispatcher positions.