Fire Dispatcher

"9-1-1, Can I Help You?"

One of the most challenging civilian jobs in the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is that of Fire Dispatcher. Dispatchers work at a fast pace under constant pressure. They quickly learn to multi-task; often listening to a caller, typing 9-1-1 information and monitoring radio traffic at the same time.

The Fire Dispatcher receives and evaluates requests for fire and emergency medical service and dispatches appropriate equipment to the incident and performs related work.

Examples of Duties

• Receives incoming 9-1-1 telephone calls and evaluates requests for fire and emergency medical services.
• Elicits essential incident information from callers.
• Determines the nature and extent of the request, the priority of the problem, and the need for dispatching a fire and/or paramedic unit.
• Evaluates the urgency of medical requests.
• Determines the appropriate units to dispatch.
• Dispatches and relays essential information by radio or intercom to units.
• Monitors emergency frequencies.
• Maintains the fire unit availability status board.
• Answers routine inquiries and refers calls not requiring dispatches to responsible departments and agencies.

Minimum Qualifications

• One year experience receiving and dispatching requests for fire emergency medical services to Fire and Paramedic units by radio or intercom.

For more detailed information on job opportunities, please review Current City Jobs on the City of San Diego website.