The new MobileEyes fire safety inspection software being introduced to the Clifton Fire Department will put the City on the map, literally.
Clifton Fire Chief Vincent Colavitti said MobileEyes will be integrated into the Clifton Fire Department over the next few months and will constantly tabulate, coordinate and update all data relating to the City’s fire safety.
What this means for the department is immediate access to information via computers and other electronics attached to every fire apparatus. ‘Immediate’ was the keyword with Colavitti who insisted urgency is pivotal to public safety. “Time is always of the essence when it comes to fires and emergencies,” the fire chief said.
Once integrated, firefighters will gain access to a wide array of information, including the obvious like where the hydrants and gas lines are located, but also the more subtle including which buildings have inspection violations and which homes have people with special needs.
Colavitti seemed more impressed with the subtleties, explaining “all the information will be plugged in and will automatically show up. Everything will be more precise and quick instead of [not knowing] what’s there.”
Other useful advantages of the software include everything from knowing which properties contain hazardous materials to being able to navigate the best driving routes to line up alongside hydrants.
Also, inspectors will get instant information when doing building inspections and the software will practically eliminate paper usage.
Even though firefighters will have instant access to information via tablets and laptops attached to every fire apparatus, perhaps more importantly is that the software will be directly tied into the dispatch system, so dispatchers can find out exactly what is in store and pass along valuable information to responding firefighters.
Colavitti said the software, which will require minor in-house training, comes preloaded with information regarding Clifton, but added other necessary information will be transferred over from the old software.
Colavitti said everything is programmed via Global Positioning System (GPS) and logged into the computer system.
The system can cost about $15,000, but Clifton was able to acquire it through capital bonding. “We can build into this system for many years to come,” said the fire chief.
The Clifton Fire Department learned much of its information from other local municipal fire departments that adopted the software, Colavitti said, adding “It is one of the best types of software out there.”
The City is already in the process of updating radio systems and dispatch systems and many of these updates are required by federal law.
Source:http://www.northjersey.com/news/141144793_Clifton_Fire_Department_acquires_software_to_tabulate_safety_data.html?page=all
