FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHAGRIN VALLEY DISPATCH CENTER AWARDED FEDERAL GRANT FOR STATE-OF-THE-ART FIRE STATION ALERT SYSTEM
Orange Village, Ohio: The Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have awarded the Chagrin Valley Dispatch Center $784,050.00 in one of the largest local grant awards in recent history. The grant award was administered through the Orange Village Fire Department and utilizes funds in the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program also known as AFG. The grant award will require a 10% share for all purchases. These shared funds will be assumed by all member communities that belong to the recently formed regional dispatch center located in the University Hospitals Bedford Medical Center.
According to Orange Village Police Lieutenant, Nick DiCicco, Administrator for the Chagrin Valley Dispatch Center, these funds will elevate services to a level not realized by many local dispatching agencies. The newly formed Chagrin Valley Dispatch Center currently serves 11 communities. “We have embraced the concept of regionalism in our approach and have added several additional agencies to the list of communities that currently utilize the new Dispatch Center.” States DiCicco. “Talks are also underway with additional communities with the ultimate goal of realizing an even greater efficiency with our tax dollars.”
The grant award will allow the Chagrin Valley Dispatch Center to implement an advanced notification system that will inter-connect the fire stations. Currently, member fire departments are using older 420 Mhz radio tones to alert the personnel to emergency calls. This transmission is subject to interference and incorporates an outdated paging network. The new system will allow dispatchers to activate multiple departments immediately and to relate important emergency information over a secure crystal clear network known as an IP FSA System. Additionally, grant funds will be utilized to purchase 40 portable radios, 57 Mobile Data Terminals (MDT’s) and additional computer aided dispatching (CAD) equipment. This newly created network and associated hardware will allow fire departments to immediately call up information in their apparatus such as building layout, routing information, inspection history and other valuable information such as hydrant locations. In the Rescue Squads, the MDT’s can be utilized to call up patient history and other valuable protocol information.
“This award represents a giant leap in technology for the area and will allow the Chagrin Valley Dispatch center to be the benchmark for other regional dispatch centers that are currently in the planning phase.” DiCicco states. “Residents can now see first hand the hard work and alternative funding efforts that we are implementing. In these days of dwindling tax dollars these efforts are critical.”
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FOR ALL INQUIRIES:
Nick DiCicco, Administrator
Chagrin Valley Dispatch Center
440.336.2067