Jackson Fire Department launches 'Community Connect' to keep residents safer
The Jackson Fire Department announced the launch of its "Community Connect" program on Tuesday, a platform aiming to encourage proactivity and maximize department response effectiveness.
The database allows commercial and residential locations alike to take the initiative in providing JFD with any personal or business information so that the department can, in real-time, access such information during an emergency call.
The first department in West Tennessee to launch the cloud-based platform, JFD Technology Officer Cory Cronin says acquiring this program has been several years in the making.
"This is the first time that the public now can register on their own and provide that information directly to us," Cronin said.
Fire Marshal Latrell Billingsley shared that before the launch of Community Connect, the former method of obtaining the information warranted first responders going door-to-door to businesses in what he described as "pre-plans."
"For us to be able to go out to different businesses and locations and know what the surroundings is, like where's your gas? Where's your electricity? Where are the hazards at your locations?" Billingsley said. "That's more for the commercial side, but for the residential side we haven't really had this service in years past to this capacity, so to be able to have some very important information about your specific location that we can use to help you in case of an emergency."
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How does the program work?
Community Connect is a risk reduction tool under the umbrella of First Due, a fire and EMS software system.
One account is allowed per address, is free to register, and is open to everyone (homeowners, renters, business/building owners). Additionally, all information provided to Community Connect is protected by banking-level encryption.
"It comes in real-time from dispatch, it pulls from the database that the citizens provide us, and all of it goes straight to the tablets on the truck for the responders to see in real-time," Cronin said.
The website can be accessed here where users will be prompted to select either a residential or business account and proceed to input the following information:
family members with exceptional needs (deaf/hard of hearing, autism, physical handicap, etc.)
entry access points (fences, door/gate codes, unusable doors, etc.)
keyholder contact information
designated family meeting places
children and/or pets
floor plans
"We really want to encourage the community to use this platform, again, this is the best way for you all to be able to communicate with us and update us on the information you want us to know about your business location or your residential location," Billingsley said.
This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Jackson Fire encourages public to use new 'Community Connect' system
