New York City Fire Department | Evaluated Learning Experience
Fire Dispatch Operations: Supervising Fire Alarm Dispatcher (COM 300)
Version 1 and 2: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: conduct in-service training; perform general supervision and lead first line employees toward the effective and efficient processing of fire suppression and other emergency and non-emergency alarms or incidents in a public safety communications center. Version 3: Students will be able to: oversee the work being performed on the dispatch platform, in both administrative and operational capacities; ensure that Department policy and procedures are being adhered to; ensure that the call- taking process is adequately performed by the ARD, that the correct information is entered in the appropriate fields, and that the alarm is processed by the Dispatcher in STARFIRE CAD in a timely manner with enough information for the decision dispatcher can send the correct assignment to the incident. Supervising Fire Alarm Dispatchers (SFAD) are responsible for having situational awareness of their Borough’s Unit status and Unit availability, as well as Unit availability Citywide as responses in their Borough may require out of borough resources. Administratively, SFADs are responsible for entering all pertinent information into the Department Journal. They perform a daily equipment check of equipment on hand such as portable radios, scanners, library of Department operational reference material and document findings in the journal; perform functionality testing of support systems such as VESTA telephone system and NICE (a logging and recording system) to ensure all phone lines, radio, and Voice Alarm functions are being recorded (phone lines and tie lines between various agencies are tested to ensure serviceability). SFADs serve as liaisons between outside plant operations and communications and are responsible for entries into City-time including Overtime worked, early relief, vacation, comp time, mutual exchange of tours; sick leave; quarterly and annual evaluations. SFADs use equipment including: the Starfire CAD, VESTA phone, EBS phone, Motorola Radio Console, Portable DARS Radio, CTI (radio transmitter site monitor), Status Entry Panel, Live MUM, MIS Computer, BARS Counter, and an Administrative Computer. Version 4: identify and use appropriately all systems located at the Supervisor’s Desk – including VESTA, VESTA Analytics, CCMIS, LIVEMUM, Motorola Radios, and FireCAD; keep accurate logs of day-to-day operations in the borough journal; perform Administrative Duties including – CityTime, Mutual Exchange of Tours, Compensatory Time Requests and Staffing; be well-versed in the role of the SFAD in Manual Operations both in a CADs down environment as well as total computer failure; be proficient and understand the FDNY Bureau of Communications – Fire Dispatch Operations – Standing Operating Guidelines, Policies and Procedures in how they apply to the Fire Alarm Dispatcher and how they apply to the Supervisor; recognize the need for and perform notifications to higher ranking members of both the Bureau of Communications as well as higher ranking members of the Fire Operations Force; and promote Diversity and Inclusion within their respective tours.