911 / Dispatch

Services

In 2005 the authority took over the provision of 911 / dispatch services for the area from Wainwright and District Ambulance.

We currently provide 911 and full fire dispatch services for:

  • Kehewin and Cold Lake First Nations
  • Metis Settlements of Fishing Lake and Buffalo Lake
  • Summer Villages of Horseshoe Bay, Bonnyville Beach, and Pelican Narrows
  • Town and County of St. Paul
  • Town and Municipal District of Bonnyville
  • Town of Elk Point
  • Village of Glendon, Vilna, and Waskatenau

Responsibilities

The 911 Dispatch Division of the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority receives and processes emergency calls on an enhanced 911 system. In addition to answering and processing 911 calls as a public call answer point, the Dispatch Division provides complete emergency dispatch services for municipalities that place their 911 services with us.

A full dispatch service includes notification of identified first emergency response for emergency medical service (EMS) and fire. Dispatch of support services such as power and gas for structure fires, police, and EMS support for motor vehicle incidents, etc.

The Dispatch Service also records all communications from radio and telephone that originate in the centre.

Emergency Fire Dispatch

Fire Services dispatched by the system are dispatched using the Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) protocols from Priority Dispatch. The centre is equipped with computer versions and Card versions of the dispatch protocols. In addition each service provides local protocols which include support services notification, multiunit response protocols, etc.

Emergency Medical Dispatch

EMS services dispatched by the system are dispatched using the EMD protocols from priority dispatch. The centre is equipped with computer versions and Card versions of the dispatch protocols. In addition each service provides local protocols which include hospital notification, multiunit response protocols, transfer procedures, etc.

Public Safety Dispatch

For Public Safety Department services dispatched by the centre we receive and track complaints on a 24-hour basis, forward complaint information to officers and create records. The centre also provides work alone monitoring for community peace officers including scheduled safety checks during traffic stops, etc.

Staff

The centre is staffed 24 hours with emergency medical and emergency fire certified dispatchers. In addition to the emergency medical dispatch (EMD) certification our dispatchers all have medical training and the majority still work part time with local EMS services as emergency medical response (EMRs), emergency medical technician (EMT)-As or EMT-Ps.