San Joaquin County has consolidated its 911 call center for fire and medical emergency services under a single dispatch provider.
The Stockton Fire Department is now the sole fire and EMS dispatch center for the county, according to a news release from the city of Stockton.
Authorities emphasize the change is taking place “behind the scenes” and it will not affect how residents call for emergency services: “911 works exactly as it does today. No new number to call, and no action is needed,” officials said in the release.
The adjustment means emergency calls will no longer be routed through multiple agencies. Typically, when a person dials 911, they are immediately connected with their primary public safety answering point, which in California is most often local law enforcement. That agency then directs the caller based on their emergency needs — police, fire or medical.
“In our area, for example, Stockton PD has a dispatch answering center. CHP has an answering center,” Stockton Fire Chief Bryan Carr said. From there, help was previously requested from a variety of other agencies.
But by bringing fire and EMS call-processing and dispatch together at one center, public safety agencies throughout San Joaquin County will have one clear, consistent place to send emergency calls, officials said.
Carr said the idea for the consolidation grew out of an earlier effort by the Stockton Fire Department.
In May, the department took over dispatching American Medical Response ambulance services, Carr said. This joint power authority is between the fire departments in Stockton and Lodi and the South San Joaquin County Fire Authority.
After a successful launch, Carr said he approached other fire districts in the area who were using a dispatch center in Stanislaus County with the proposition to work together.
“All those fire chiefs agreed they thought that was a good idea,” he said.
While Carr noted the benefits of the consolidation, he said the increased workload — 30 to 35 more calls a day — requires an increased workforce.
In January, Carr said he requested authorization for seven new dispatch positions in anticipation of the Stockton Fire Department taking over 911 dispatches. The department also moved from 24-hour to 12-hour shifts, “which helped us manage peak demand times,” he said.
The additional positions are being funded by revenue and cost-recovery fees charged to neighboring EMS agencies,” Carr said.