Missoula Rural Fire needs public's help with critical information
Firefighters are ready to go on a dime and always as prepared as possible, but sometimes, not knowing details of a situation can waste valuable time in a dire situation.
The Missoula Rural Fire District is rolling out new technology that will help combat this problem. A program called Community Connect will allow firefighters to respond more quickly and efficiently.
The technology was recently installed in the rigs at Missoula Rural Fire District. Fighters are able to access critical information on the way to a call, rather than figuring out once they get there.
"We can pull it up right there while we're responding and get crucial information, like access points, whether or not people have basements, how many people live in the home, if anybody has issues with getting around that we might need to go and find them if there was a fire," said Eric Huleatt, Missoula Rural Fire District lieutenant.
Huleatt added that having this information prior to arriving on scene allows firefighters to better prepare for what they're up against, saving valuable time when it matters most.
However, Huleatt said the software is no good without the help of the public. That's why he's urging people to add their information to the Community Connect database. Click here to create an account and add your information.
Huleatt assures this database is as secure as mobile banking, so personal information will be safe.
You can find more information regarding Community Connect by visiting Missoula Rural Fire District's Facebook page.
