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Port Coquitlam, B.C.— Port Coquitlam Fire & Emergency Services is now communicating on the E-Comm Wide-Area Radio Network. The move means all three fire departments in the Tri-Cities are operating on the same radio system for the first time, allowing them to communicate more effectively.

“There are 61,000 residents of Port Coquitlam who rely on firefighters to keep them safe and to protect their property,” said Mayor Greg Moore. “Our residents can take comfort in knowing that their firefighters have the right technology at their sides.”

“From battling blazes to responding to hazardous goods incidents or motor vehicle crashes, firefighters work in all sorts of dangerous and complex conditions in which communication is paramount,” said Oliver Grüter-Andrew, E-Comm President and CEO. “We are committed to providing firefighters in Port Coquitlam with the clear, reliable and broad radio coverage they need to do their jobs in challenging situations and environments.”

In addition to improving communication amongst Tri-Cities fire departments, this transition means Port Coquitlam Fire & Emergency Services can also communicate seamlessly with local police and the ambulance service, which are also using the
E-Comm system.

“Efficient radio communication is a lifeline, and joining with other local first responders under the E-Comm system enhances our emergency response capabilities for the safety of our residents and firefighters,” said Councillor Mike Forrest, Chair of the City’s Community Safety Committee.

Last year, agencies using E-Comm’s radio system began moving to a new state-of-the-art network in a planned upgrade to next generation technology. Port Coquitlam Fire & Emergency Services is now one of more than 30 agencies operating on this new network that provides first responders with enhanced audio clarity, increased coverage and better security.

“By joining the wide-area radio network, we are increasing interoperability between all emergency-service agencies which ultimately means a safer working environment for first responders,” added Port Coquitlam Fire Chief Nick Delmonico.

The E-Comm Wide-Area Radio Network is the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in British Columbia and is used by police, fire and ambulance personnel within Metro Vancouver and parts of the Fraser Valley. Currently,
BC Emergency Health Services within Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford, all police agencies in Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford and 13 fire departments in Metro Vancouver – including Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody – use the radio network to communicate with each other. In 2017, firefighters, police officers and paramedics broadcasted approximately 130 million times.

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About E-Comm
E-Comm is the largest 9-1-1 call centre in B.C. In 2017, it handled approximately 1.45 million emergency calls for 26 regional districts and communities spanning from Vancouver Island to Alberta and from the U.S. border, to north of Prince George.
E-Comm also provides call-taking and dispatch services to 36 police agencies and fire departments in southwest B.C. and operates the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in the province. 

Contacts:

Chief Nick Delmonico
Port Coquitlam Fire & Emergency Services
604-927-5466
[email protected] 

Sam Corea
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-215-4877
[email protected]

Vancouver, B.C.— Calling 9-1-1 to complain that a nail salon won’t change your nail polish colour is a call that doesn’t belong on 9-1-1, says E-Comm as it releases its top 10 nuisance calls list for 2017.

E-Comm call-taker Christie Duncan fielded the call and says it’s just one example of the types of calls call-takers receive every day that can tie up the 9-1-1 lines. “Spending time on calls like these takes me away from being available to help someone who is a serious emergency situation,” says Duncan. “And believe it or not, this isn’t the first time I’ve received a call about the colour of nail polish.”

Here is E-Comm’s 2017 list of top 10 reasons to not call 9-1-1:

1. Complaining a salon wouldn’t change nail polish colour
2. Car refusing to move forward at a gas station pump
3. To report food was inedible and restaurant refusing to provide refund
4. Complaining tenant moved without returning keys
5. Calling because someone parked in their parking spot
6. Wondering if a washroom closed sign at a popular beach was legitimate
7. Complaining gas station wouldn’t accept coins for payment
8. Calling to ask if raccoons are dangerous animals
9. Asking if there’s a law preventing washing clothes at 6 a.m.
10. Calling to check the time following the fall time change

“As you can see by our 2017 list, some people believe 9-1-1 can be used as a customer complaint or general information service,” says Jody Robertson, executive director of corporate communications. “While these calls are absurd, they’re more common than you might think. The fact is – every time a 9-1-1 call taker handles one of these calls, we waste valuable resources. We’re asking the public to help us help.”

Robertson reminds the public that 9-1-1 is for police, fire or medical emergencies when immediate action is needed and calling non-emergency lines for calls like this is also not appropriate. “Non-emergency lines are for important police matters. None of the items on our list is a police matter.”

E-Comm, B.C.’s largest emergency communications centre, receives approximately 1.36 million calls every year.

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E-Comm is the largest 9-1-1 call centre in B.C., handling approximately 1.36 million emergency calls per year for 26 regional districts and communities spanning from Vancouver Island to Alberta and from the U.S. border, to north of Prince George.

E-Comm also provides call-taking and dispatch services to 36 police agencies and fire departments in southwest B.C. and operates the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in the province. 

For additional information, please contact:

Sam Corea
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-215-4877
[email protected]

Vancouver, B.C.—One in five 9-1-1 calls for police isn’t an emergency, according to estimates by E-Comm, B.C.’s largest emergency communications centre.

To help keep 9-1-1 lines free for emergencies that require immediate action from police, E-Comm is conducting a public awareness campaign focused on helping people better recognize when to call 9-1-1 and when to call the non-emergency line.

“9-1-1 is for those who need assistance right away – their health, safety or property is in immediate jeopardy, or a crime is in progress,” says Jasmine Bradley, E-Comm’s Manager of Corporate Communications.

Some recent examples of police matters that should have been reported on the non-emergency line, not 9-1-1:

• Vehicle break-in that happened three days earlier
• Motor vehicle crash with no injuries and the vehicle was driveable
• A break-in that occurred 90 minutes earlier, with no suspect on scene and no one at risk

In 2016, E-Comm managed more than 387,000 emergency calls for 17 police agencies in Metro Vancouver. It’s estimated that approximately 77,000 were non-emergencies.

“Before we ask a 9-1-1 caller to hang-up and call their local non-emergency number, we have to take time to assess whether the situation is an actual emergency,” explains E-Comm police call-taker Jefferey Ching, who received the call for the three-day-old vehicle break-in. “My caller certainly needed to report that break-in to police, but the non-emergency line is a better choice so that if someone calls 9-1-1 for a true emergency, they get through as soon as possible. ”

Bradley adds that if anyone is in doubt if their situation is an emergency, they should dial 9-1-1 first. “Generally speaking, if there is no immediate danger, there is a significant time delay and no suspect on scene, a 9-1-1 call-taker will refer the caller to the local non-emergency line so a report can be taken without tying up 9-1-1.”

“My caller was great and understood my reasons for needing to call non-emergency,” says Ching. “I hope people will help us by taking the opportunity to learn more about the differences and to keep their local non-emergency numbers on hand if need be.”

Non-emergency numbers within E-Comm’s service area are available at nonemergency.ca.

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Resources

Radio ads and campaign materials.

E-Comm’s Jefferey Ching, police call-taker, quoted in the news release.

E-Comm is the largest 9-1-1 call centre in Canada, handling approximately 1.36 million emergency calls per year for 26 regional districts and communities spanning from Vancouver Island to Alberta and from the U.S. border, to north of Prince George.

E-Comm also provides call-taking and dispatch services to 36 police agencies and fire departments in southwest B.C. and operates the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in the province. 

For additional information, please contact:

Sam Corea
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-215-4877
[email protected]

COQUITLAM, BC, Nov. 21, 2017 – Coquitlam Fire/Rescue’s (CFR) dispatch services moved to E-Comm on Nov. 21, ensuring the community will continue to receive high quality 9-1-1 services as call volumes rise in the future.

Access to leading-edge technology, increased staff coverage, alignment with other regional emergency responders and cost benefits are among the advantages of the shift to E-Comm, B.C.’s largest consolidated emergency communication centre.
E-Comm is responsible for more than 90 per cent of B.C.’s 9-1-1 call volume.

The decision to move to E-Comm was made following a review of Coquitlam’s fire and emergency services communications during the 2017 Business Planning process. The review determined an external dispatch system would better enable CFR to provide efficient and effective emergency response as call volumes rise in the years to come. No jobs are to be lost through this process as existing Coquitlam Fire Dispatch staff will transition into other vacant positions within the department.

CFR first partnered with E-Comm, when it joined the regional radio system in 2007, and because CFR’s technology is already fully compatible with E-Comm, the transition will have no technological impact on day-to-day operations or access to 9-1-1 services for Coquitlam residents.

The move brings a number of enhancements to firefighter and public safety, including:

• Larger dispatch workforce for increased coverage in major and extended events;
• A purpose-built facility, with enhanced security and back-up provisions;
• Cost benefits through shared resources and infrastructure;
• Access to extensive 24/7 technical support;
• A dedicated fire dispatch manager; and
• Rigorous quality assurance processes.

E-Comm, which has a staff of more than 350 call-takers/dispatchers and has provided police and fire dispatch services for more than 18 years, follows the strict service level targets set by the National Fire Protection Association.

Today’s high-tech dispatch systems and standards-based operating policies have proven very effective in supporting accurate and timely reponse by fire crews to emergency scenes.

In the Tri-Cities, E-Comm provides dispatch services for Port Moody Fire-Rescue and Port Moody Police.

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Media contact:
Wade Pierlot
Fire Chief
Coquitlam Fire/Rescue
604-927-6401
[email protected]

Kathleen Vincent
City of Coquitlam
Office: 604-927-3019
Cell: 604-218-1319
[email protected]

Jasmine Bradley
E-Comm 9-1-1

604-215-5023
[email protected]

Vancouver, B.C.—Today at 7:33 a.m. the Abbotsford Police Department (APD) successfully transitioned its 9-1-1 and police call-taking services to E-Comm, British Columbia’s largest emergency communications centre. Dispatch followed at 7:56 a.m. Abbotsford is the first municipal police department outside Metro Vancouver to join E-Comm, and is its 18th police dispatch partner.

E-Comm has been providing 9-1-1 call-answer services for the Upper Fraser Valley since 2016 and today, also became the first point of contact for 9-1-1 callers in the City of Abbotsford. The first call to 9-1-1 following the cutover came in at 7:54 a.m. to report a fire. The call was transferred to the Fraser Valley Regional Fire Dispatch centre.

APD has been using the E-Comm radio system since 2011.

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E-Comm is the largest 9-1-1 call centre in Canada, handling approximately 1.36 million emergency calls per year for 26 regional districts and communities spanning from Vancouver Island to Alberta and from the U.S. border, to north of Prince George.

E-Comm also provides call-taking and dispatch services to 36 police agencies and fire departments in southwest B.C. and operates the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in the province. For more information visit www.ecomm911.ca.

For additional information please contact

E-Comm 9-1-1

Jody Robertson
604-215-4956
[email protected]

Abbotsford Police Department

Cst. Ian MacDonald
604-864-4721
[email protected]