When the new Alberta First Responders Radio Communications System (AFRRCS) launches July 1, those first to the scene of major events such as fires and motor vehicle collisions will have a consolidated way to communicate with each other.
When the new Alberta First Responders Radio Communications System (AFRRCS) launches July 1, those first to the scene of major events such as fires and motor vehicle collisions will have a consolidated way to communicate with each other.
“ This important project will help protect the lives of Albertans, from families to first responders,” said Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kathleen Ganley. “ This province-wide radio system will ensure that the people who keep us safe every day have the communication network they need to respond as quickly and as co-ordinated as possible.”
The new system has taken eight years and $438 million to implement. Agencies such as the RCMP, fire departments and Alberta Health Services (AHS) emergency medical services (EMS) will be given free access to the system but will be required to purchase the actual radios. Development of the system required the building or modification of 332 communications towers, 328 of which have been completed.
The Province will spend approximately $17 million per year to operate and maintain the system.
The system will allow first responders from different agencies to communicate with each other over one system. Agencies are not required to join AFRRCS, according to Ganley.
“ If they have communications systems that they feel are adequate or they're not willing or ready to transition, for whatever reason, that's the choice we'll leave to them,” she said.
RCMP from across the province will switch to the new system, according to Alberta RCMP Deputy Commissioner Marianne Ryan.
“ I can tell you that overall, better communication during any situation is always something we strive for, but particularly in those situations that involve public safety and officer safety,” she said. “ With AFRRCS, it's a game changer for us.”
The Airdrie Fire Department (AFD) will continue to use its own in-house system, according to Fire Chief Kevin Weinberger, but will use AFRRCS when working on inter-agency events.
“ We're still maintaining our legacy system with the City, but we'll be using the AFRRCS system for all of our mutual aid events,” he said. “ (This includes) anytime we get called to Rocky View (County) or whenever we call them in – we will use the AFRRCS system.”
Weinberger said the AFD may eventually switch to AFRRCS for everything but because there is a considerable cost and time investment in the in-house system, the decision was made to use it for events occurring in the city.
“ Our legacy system is fairly new and until the AFRRCS system is tested, tried and true, we didn't want to let go of it,” he said. “ There's some major expense to purchasing the equipment for the AFRRCS system.”
Ganley said the cost of a single base model radio for the system started at approximately $1,200.
Weinberger said the AFD would be purchasing eight radios at a cost of approximately $4,000 each and keeping them to use during mutual aid events.
EMS will be transitioning to the AFRRCS system, according to Marty Scott, executive director of EMS Provincial Programs.
“ The new system improves our ability to respond to patients and enhances staff safety. With all crews on one radio system, we can better co-ordinate emergency response when Albertans call for help and can provide immediate support to our crews no matter where they are located across the province,” he said.
Local EMS has already been using the AFRRCS system.
“ All of our staff are actually carrying both versions of radios right now – we've been doing that for a while,” Spokesman Stuart Brideaux said.
