Lakeside Fire Department enters the computer age

Lakeside Fire Department is beginning the process of changing over from manual data entry to a much more efficient computerized data system. The department has planned on a change for more than a year. The cost of the change from the current manual entry system has until now been prohibitive.

Large departments in urban areas have been using computerized systems for many years. The cost to purchase the programs, along with licensing fees and technical support are prohibitive to most rural departments and districts.

The Oregon State Fire Marshals office has recognized the need for upgrading all of the fire departments in Oregon.

For more than a year the Oregon State Fire Marshals office has been working with a software contractor to develop a web based program. The program is now available to all fire agencies statewide. The program being offered is as capable and efficient as programs costing thousands of dollars initially along with yearly licensing and technical support fees.

Lakeside was the first department to start using the new program and has aided in working out some glitches.

The diverse program is flexible and expandable. Currently it is capable of handling:

• Personnel forms
• Training
• Apparatus
• Call tracking
• Inventory
• Fire reports
• Hydrant locations and capacities

Additionally, there are a number of other manual data requirements.

During the month of November Lakeside participated in training that taught how to operate the program. The first week of December began with loading information into the system. The program is very comprehensive. The department anticipates it will take several months to fully integrate the program for the fire district.

During the middle of December it was necessary to update the station for the change to computerized data entry. The hard wiring for four computers is now complete.

The fire district computers are very old; the operating system is Windows 95. The computers are difficult to use with a web-based system, they have been in the shop a couple of times for repairs.

The department needs four computers with cat 5 cable ports and operating systems that are newer than Windows 95. If anyone has a spare computer the Lakeside fire department could put it to good use.