When an emergency happens, most people know the first step: call 911. But what happens between making that call and seeing firefighters arrive?
In Bucks County, several things begin happening behind the scenes almost immediately. From confirming the location of the emergency to alerting firefighters, the information you provide helps get the appropriate resources moving.
Step 1: Bucks County 911 Determines Where You Are
One of the first things a 911 call taker needs to establish is the location of the emergency.
Even when location information is available from your phone, you may still be asked to confirm the address. According to Bucks County Emergency Communications, confirming the municipality is also important because streets with identical or similar names can exist in different parts of Bucks County.
Give the address as clearly as possible and, if you know it, provide the municipality.
Step 2: The 911 Call Taker Asks Questions
Once the location is established, the call taker begins gathering information about what's happening.
For a fire-related emergency, you may be asked questions such as:
What is on fire?
Do you see smoke or flames?
Is everyone out of the building?
Is anyone trapped or injured?
Where in the building is the fire?
Are nearby buildings threatened?
Are there any known hazards?
It can feel like answering questions is delaying the response, but that's not necessarily what's happening.
Bucks County explains that information from the call is entered into its Computer-Aided Dispatch system and appropriate emergency units can begin being dispatched while the call taker continues gathering information.
Step 3: Firefighters Are Dispatched
Based on the location and type of emergency, Bucks County Emergency Communications connects the person requesting help with the police, fire or emergency medical agencies responding to the incident.
When Levittown Fire Company No. 2 is dispatched, our volunteer firefighters are alerted and available members begin responding.
Our volunteers may be at home, at work, having dinner with their families or going about their normal day when the call comes in.
When the alert sounds, they respond.
Step 4: Firefighters Receive Updates While Responding
The information you provide doesn't simply stay with the person answering your 911 call.
As additional information becomes available, dispatchers can provide updates to responding emergency units.
Those details help firefighters prepare for what they may encounter.
A report of an electrical odor inside a home is very different from a report of heavy smoke coming from a second-floor bedroom with someone possibly trapped inside.
Why Might Several Fire Trucks Be Dispatched?
Different emergencies require different amounts of personnel and equipment.
A structure fire, for example, may require firefighters for fire attack, search and rescue, water supply, ventilation, ladder operations and firefighter safety.
That means several pieces of apparatus — sometimes from more than one fire company — may be dispatched to the same emergency.
What Should You Do While Firefighters Are Responding?
If there's a fire inside your home, get everyone outside and stay outside.
Do not go back inside for belongings.
Move to a safe location away from the building.
Keep streets, driveways and fire hydrants accessible.
Tell the dispatcher if someone may still be inside.
Tell the first arriving firefighters if anyone is missing.
Early warning can provide valuable time to escape. Make sure your home is protected by working alarms by reading our smoke alarm safety guide.
Your 911 Call Is the Beginning of the Response
The emergency response begins before the first fire truck arrives.
It begins with the information provided to 911.
Stay as calm as you can, listen carefully to the call taker, answer their questions and follow their instructions.
When Levittown Fire Company No. 2 is needed, our members are ready to answer the call.
If you have an emergency, call 911.