THE VILLAGE, Okla. — The Village Fire Department is set to purchase a new $65,000 computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system with support from a grant provided by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. The federal share of the grant covers $32,500, with the remaining cost funded by the department.
Approved by the City Council in March, the new system will support seamless Automatic Aid integration between The Village Fire Department and the Oklahoma City Fire Department, while maintaining uninterrupted operations for the Village Police Department, OKC FRIDAY reported.
“We currently use an outdated and non-integrated CAD systems, limiting real-time communication and coordination during emergency and disaster response,” Fire Chief Chris Brigan said.
Brigan added that the department currently relies on outdated and non-integrated CAD systems, which hinder real-time communication and coordination during emergencies and disaster response. This lack of integration leads to challenges such as delayed response times, inefficient use of resources, and limited collaboration between agencies, Brigan said.
The new CAD system is expected to improve disaster response and boost interoperability with nearby fire departments and emergency agencies. It will support more coordinated responses across multiple jurisdictions, including Nichols Hills and Oklahoma City, ensuring efficient deployment of critical resources.
The project also comes with financial considerations, including software, hardware and ongoing maintenance costs. As a result, The Village Fire Department’s annual budget is projected to increase by about $20,000.
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