Fire and ambulance services to use automated dispatch system in Boone County

Ambulance and fire service personnel in Boone County may begin hearing an automated voice instead of a person behind a phone as soon as this week, according to the Boone County Joint Communications.

“It’s a complete shift in how we dispatch fire and [emergency services] to a call,” said Chad Martin with BCJC. “Humans have been doing it forever in Boone County, and hopefully this week that will change to a computer software.”

The county paid $179,300 for the service.

The technology will allow dispatchers to send pre-recorded messages to responders, allowing them to simultaneously communicate with 911 callers and emergency crews.

Only fire and ambulance agencies in Boone County will use the technology. No police department dispatch team will use it, according to Boone County Joint Communications.

The company Locution, which is based in Golden, Colorado, is behind the “Prime Alert Voice” service. To hear demos of what the voice will sound like for responders, click here.

“Anything that helps us get the information quicker, and gets us responding [to calls] faster is a good thing,” said Assistant Chief Josh Creamer with the Boone County Fire Protection District.”