William Repass
Interim Superintendent

38 Jennings Road
Hartford, CT 06120
Phone: 860.757.4580
Fax: 860.722.8224
Email: William Repass

Fire Alarm Communications Technology Division

The Fire Alarm Communication & Technology Division supports the Fire Department’s Emergency Services and Support Services Divisions through state-of-the-art technology. The Division is a critical component of the Department’s ability to maintain its Class 1 rating to achieve its next goal ~ to obtain the coveted status as an accredited agency from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. The Division has evolved from its early days as linemen running fire alarm cable to maintaining fire alarm circuits that protect hospitals, schools, and apartment buildings. The Division maintains all department computers including mobile data computers in the apparatus. The Division maintains the department’s automatic vehicle- locating programs (AVL) with GPS, and the Firehouse® Software records management system. The Division is staffed by 6 people: a Superintendent, Supervisor and four technicians trained to maintain three categories of service, Fire Alarm Maintenance, Traffic Signal Maintenance and Computer Maintenance.

FIRE ALARM MAINTENANCE

TRAFFIC SIGNAL MAINTENANCE

COMPUTER SYSTEMS

The Fire Alarm portion of our duties include; administration, supervision, installation, repair and testing of fire alarm systems, 290 master boxes, 15 Emergency Voice Communication System boxes, and 105 miles of aerial & underground fire alarm cable (containing 30 different circuits of alarm reception and transmission), 12 fire stations and 290 private and public buildings. We provide administration, supervision, installation, repair and testing of emergency dispatch alarm transmission and reception systems, which include primary fire house alert system, secondary Vocalarm system, and printers. The Division interfaces with Emergency Services & Telecommunications to maintain department radios. The Division supports the KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry System providing non-destructive emergency access to commercial and residential property.

The Division’s duties include; administration, supervision, installation, programming, repair and testing of traffic systems: 270 traffic intersections containing traffic signal controller and traffic signals, pedestrian signals, video vehicle- detection cameras, microwave vehicle detectors, in-pavement vehicle detectors and underground and aerial traffic interconnect cables between each traffic intersection and the central computer. The Division is responsible for Hartford's fire alarm and traffic systems by marking the location of our underground cables for contractors using the "Call Before You Dig" Program.

The maintenance of computer systems has many elements, from the traditional desktop and laptop service to Mobile Data Computers (MDC.) The Mobile Data Computer system is an innovative tool using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Position System (GPS) to help the Hartford Fire Department maximize its resources.

In each fire apparatus is a mobile data computer with a preloaded map of the city. The map will automatically identify the exact building as soon as the call is generated to dispatch, displaying an aerial image of the building, building number, hazardous materials, hydrants, water mains, and speed bumps. The Mobile Data Computer system, was created by the Hartford Fire Department, and has been recognized internationally for its success by being awarded a Special Achievement Award in 2006 by ESRI.