"The Communications Division is responsible for receiving the requests for emergency and non-emergency service from citizens, visitors, business, and other agencies."

The appropriate Monroe Fire Department units are then alerted and dispatched. The movements of all department first-in units are tracked from dispatch to completion of the incident.

Communications is very critical to the fire department. Fire communications is usually the first contact between the public and the Monroe Fire Department. It is truly the nerve center of the department. The Monroe Fire Department Communications Center is located adjacent to fire station #1 at 506 Olive Street, and is staffed 24-hours a day by trained Fire Communications Officers.

This is where calls for emergency assistance or public service are received from the public and is transmitted to the appropriate units or stations.

The first priority of a Communications Officer is to collect all important information concerning fire, EMS, and other emergency incidents and to make sure the appropriate emergency personnel are dispatched to the location in the city limits of Monroe and some mutual aid outside of the city limits as well.

Another responsibility of a Communications Officer is to provide support to operations personnel, other agencies and the general public in carrying out many routine, business, and non-emergency tasks.

Here are some things to keep in mind when calling "911"

• Get to safety and dial 9-1-1
• Listen carefully to the call taker and answer all questions
• Stay calm and speak clearly
• Give the dispatcher the location of the fire or other emergency as clearly as possible
• Give your name and phone number to the dispatcher when requested. Providing this information will not delay the Communications Officer in dispatching the responding unit(s). This information may be vital while the units are en route.
• Inform the dispatcher of other important information, such as the name of the business, any persons trapped inside, any hazards involved, close cross streets, and any other information you may think is relevant to the fire department's response.
• All of the above information will speed up the dispatcher and the fire units to the scene of the emergency.