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SECTION 5 <br />SERVICES <br />While the entire strategic plan focuses on operational improvement, this scction includcs <br />specific areas of emergency operalions and issues related to those operations. It is our <br />vision that we remain aggressive in our pursuit of excellence in our emergency operations <br />development. Goals for izxxprovement within this category include Dispatch/Radio <br />Communicatiox�s, Recruitment & Retention of Members, Training, Emergency <br />Operations, Fire Prevention, Building Codes axxd Inspections, EMS, Planning & <br />Research, ISO Rating, Accreditation, Station Staffing, Alarm Staffing, and External <br />Customer Relations. <br />Dispatch / radio communications <br />Our dispatching serviccs are provided primarily by trvo agencies. Our public safety <br />answering point (PSAP), where a119-1-1 calls arc answered is the Ramsey County <br />Sheriffls Office. Qur radio dispatching is contracted through the St. Paul Fire <br />Department Communications Center. Currently, this arrangement is a vcry cost cffectivc <br />way to dispatch our fire department and, for the most part, we are satisfied with this <br />service arrangement. However, lhere ate a variety of service issues that have been <br />documented and we are working with these third-party agencies to resolve thern. In <br />addition, the introduction of EMS will affect dispatching services and costs. <br />Many of the problems with our radio communications are not frozzz our dispatching <br />service, but from the antiquated radio system that we operate under. The techanology of <br />our radio system is more than 40 years old. The deficiencies of this system lead to risk <br />exposure for crews responding to, and operating on, emergency scenes. The ultimate <br />goal of our communications system is to provide an effective and efficient <br />communication system that provides firefighters the toois and information required in <br />emergency operations. <br />A positive resolution of an emergency incident always starts with, and remains heavily <br />dependent on, cornmunications. These issues did not occur overnight and must be dealt <br />with in a systematic approach. This plan sets the stage for improving communications of <br />information, both voice and data.. <br />37 <br />