Communications-Dispatch-Staffing-Process

Typically, The San Diego City Fire/EMS Dispatch Center handles more than 120,000 9-1-1 calls a year.

This does not include routine administrative calls, including fire lane violations, fire hazard concerns, fire alarm testing notifications, and calls from citizens with non-emergency situations. Those phone calls are handled by a highly trained staff.

The Dispatch Center Staff

7 Emergency Fire/Medical Dispatchers
2 System Status Controllers
1 Shift Supervisor

Dispatch Staff members work an 8 hour shift with three shifts covering 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Supervising Dispatch Fire Captain works a 24 hour shift.

Emergency Fire/Medical Dispatch Positions

The Emergency Fire/Medical Dispatchers rotate through four designated positions:

• Call-taker
• Dispatch Radio
• Medical Radio
• Incident Radio
• Relief Radio

When your 9-1-1 Fire/EMS call comes into the Dispatch Center

Your 9-1-1 call is the Communications Center's top priority, when you call with a fire/medical emergency your call takes the following route:

Call-taker - A Call-taker will answer the phone and will ask the necessary information to dispatch the correct equipment and personnel to take care of the emergency.

Dispatch Radio - After the Call-taker gets an address and the nature of the emergency, the information is immediately sent to the dispatch radio. The Dispatcher radios the fire/EMS crews.

Medical Radio Dispatcher - The Medical Radio Dispatcher monitors ambulances and engines responding to medical emergencies. The Medical Radio Dispatcher ensures all medical calls are received and units are responding.

Fire Radio Dispatcher - The Fire Radio Dispatcher monitors all units responding to fires, hazardous material problems, rescues, or any other emergency that is not a medical call. Like the Medical Radio Dispatcher, the Fire Radio Dispatcher ensures all calls are received and units are responding.

Relief Radio Dispatcher - This position takes the position of any call-taker or radio operator when they take a break or go to lunch.

Other Positions In the Dispatch Center

System Status Controller - The System Status Controller monitors the placement of ambulances in the system to ensure all neighborhoods are covered. For example, when an ambulance is on a call, the system status controller places another ambulance in the area.

Dispatch Captain and Shift Manager - These supervisors oversee employees and ensure the efficient operation of the Fire/Ems Communications Center.