Introductory Statement

On behalf of the Springfield Fire Department, the City of Springfield is requesting $75,000 for a total program cost of $250,000 to establish a fully-integrated mobile communications system.

The City of Springfield was founded in 1872 and is located on the eastern valley of the Ozark Hills. It covers 44 square miles, 36 square miles of land and 8 square miles of water. In a suburban setting, the Springfield Fire Department serves an approximate population of 58,000, according to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau. It is a career department that provides fire suppression, rescue and paramedic emergency medical services to the City of Springfield and paramedic emergency medical services to surrounding communities within Ozark County. The department has 42 full-time career firefighters and one full-time chief.

The Springfield Fire Department actively collaborates with eight neighboring fire departments and public safety agencies to provide dispatch services for the Ozark County 911 Communications Center. As a joint administrating agency, the Springfield Fire Department has a vested interest to further ensure community safety by providing Springfield firefighters with accurate and accessible emergency information.

“We continue to work to promote interoperability and information exchange when coordinating emergency response efforts,” said Leonard Thompson, president of the county communications center, “But it’s going to take cutting-edge technology employed by each coordinating agency to bring us together and make information sharing truly feasible.”

The mission of the Springfield Fire Department is to provide the highest level of courteous and responsive service to the citizens of Springfield. Like the Fireman’s Fund, the City of Springfield is also committed to supporting local firefighters with the resources they need to protect lives and property. The Springfield Fire Department’s mission is accomplished by implementing comprehensive strategies in fire response and prevention, fire suppression, emergency medical services, emergency preparedness, 911 services, and risk mitigation.

By establishing a mobile communications system, the Springfield Fire Department aims to reduce emergency response times; promote data and resource sharing between city departments, as well as with neighboring state and local agencies; and increase the effectiveness of local emergency response services. The proposed project complements the efforts of the county communications center and enables firefighters to access shared emergency information remotely. It will allow the Springfield Fire Department to respond quicker and more accurately with greater efficiency.