The Dispatch Centre, formerly the Control Room, is the heart of the Barbados Fire Service’s operations, much like the human heart that powers every vital function in the body. All operational activities at fire station depend on, or is coordinated through, the Dispatch Centre, which typically serves as the first point of contact for emergency callers. While each station has a local Control Room, requests for help are routed to the primary Dispatch Centre and Call Center, which is located at the Arch Hall Fire Station.
Department Mobilisation
The Barbados Fire Service Dispatch Center provides both fire and emergency rescue dispatching services across Barbados. It is equipped to route calls to other emergency agencies when needed, including The Barbados Police Service, the Emergency Ambulance Service, the Barbados Defense Force, the Barbados Light and Power Company Limited, the Barbados Water Authority, and the Department of Emergency Management.
Control Room Technology
Continuous integration of technology within the Dispatch Center has significantly improved response times, enabling faster dispatch of fire and rescue teams to incidents, ultimately helping save lives. With these upgrades, dispatchers can now identify and deploy the nearest response team to a specific incident. Additionally, the enhancements make the service more accessible to the public through modern communication channels.
Control Room Dispatcher(s)
The Dispatch Center operates on a 24-hour system, staffed with personnel trained to answer 311 emergency calls and support on-scene responders via radio communications. All staff are cross-trained and rotate through various roles, including managing service requests, call intake, dispatching, and handling radio traffic for active incidents.
Personnel in the Dispatch Centre are designated as “Fire Service Dispatchers”, with full authority from the Chief Fire Officer to mobilize Barbados Fire Service resources and collaborate with Incident Commanders to implement executive decisions for effective emergency incidents scene control.
Dispatchers must have a strong knowledge of station areas and the island’s geography. They are trained to remain calm and objective during emergency calls, gathering essential information from callers to assist responders. Multitasking is essential: dispatchers track ongoing emergency responses, monitor communications over the Barbados Fire Service radio network, and meticulously document all relevant details, including the movement of personnel, fire appliances and other resources.