Alberta launches new emergency communications system for first responders

The same technology used to coordinated dozens of fire departments and other first responders during the Fort McMurray inferno, is being launched across the province.

On Thursday morning, Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley announced the July 1 launch of the Alberta First Responders Radio Communications System, to coordinate response for emergencies and disasters.

When a wildfire ripped through Fort McMurray on May 3, it seriously damaged the city’s radio system, and left communications line blank. Deputy Fire Chief Brad Grainger says AFRRCS portable radios were sent to the region to help coordinate firefighting and evacuation efforts.

“Our 911 communication centre went down and also had to be evacuated. It was AFRRCS that allowed us to use our portable communication and literally took 911 calls in the back of a moving emergency vehicle as we travelled down the highway. It was truly remarkable,” he says.

Grainger says 90,000 of his neighbours, friends and colleagues wouldn’t have been able to evacuate without the system. However, Calgary isn’t on board yet with the province’s new $438 million radio network. It’s a voluntary service provided by the province and it’s up to municipalities to join in.

“If they have communications systems that they feel are adequate, or they’re not willing or they’re ready to transition for whatever reason, then that’s the choice we’ll leave to them. But I think the system will continue to be effective and continue to be functional and they’ll always have the option to come on down the line,” says Ganley.

Construction on AFRRCS began in 2008 and is slated to finish this summer. There are 332 sites, and 328 are completed.

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