As temperatures begin dropping in Ohio, fire stations across the state are preparing for the start of “fire season.”
Urbana Fire Division and the rest of Champaign County Emergency Services are already in motion, as they prepare to implement a state-of-the-art dispatch system in their communication center.
The Locution Dispatch System is an EMS and fire station alerting and dispatch system that automates and streamlines the dispatch process, ensuring fast, clear, and effective communication of emergency calls. It uses high-quality automated voice dispatching to deliver emergency information to fire stations and crews to minimize human error and ensure consistent messaging. The system integrates with fire stations to activate lights tones, speakers, and message boards, ensuring personnel are immediately notified of incidents. It also supports zone-based alerting, meaning only the teams or stations relevant to the incident are alerted, reducing unnecessary noise for others, says Fire Division Chief Dean Ortlieb.
Locution connects with Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems to pull real-time incident details so responders have accurate and up-to-date information. Its goal is to reduce response times, add capacity, and support firefighter safety and efficiency.
The Champaign Communications Center is a 24/7 countywide law enforcement, EMS, and fire dispatch center. Champaign County has been working since early 2023 to prepare the system for its integration in early 2025.
