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1. What is Fire Communications?

The Fire Marshal’s Office/Office of Emergency Management Communications Division is co-located with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office at the Emergency Communications Center. This division, referred to as Bexar County Fire Dispatch, is comprised of eleven (11) full-time Telecommunications Officers, and two (2) part-time Telecommunications Officers who staff the Communications Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The division provides an essential service that provides emergency dispatch services for 38 fire stations, 12 Emergency Services Districts, 13 municipal cities, and for all Fire Marshal and Office of Emergency Management personnel.

2. What are the daily duties of a fire communications officer?

• Answers emergency and non-emergency calls from the general public and routes calls to other public safety agency dispatchers as needed
• Enters call subject matter into computer and prioritizes calls for service
• Enters all pertinent information regarding all calls for service into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system
• Dispatches for all fire departments in unincorporated Bexar County for medical and fire responses
• Maintains the location of all Fire Department, Fire Marshal and Office of Emergency Management personnel
• Assigns call requests as a single service (law enforcement or fire/EMS) dispatcher over a two-way radio to law enforcement responders or fire/EMS responders in vicinity to investigate incident or provide assistance
• Responds to requests for information regarding CAD incident numbers, case numbers, arrival times, citizen addresses and other Public Safety Communications information
• Researches law enforcement databases to verify information on individuals, such as driver’s license validity, existence of protective orders, missing person stolen/recovered vehicle, warrants, vehicle registration and criminal history
• Maintains public safety responder location and en route status logs
• Assists training new employees in procedures for dispatching, radio communications, notification of proper personnel, operation of telecommunication equipment, documentation of calls and other related procedures

3. What will my training look like?

Below are a few examples of what your training might look like.

• Week 1: Introduction, Policies, Recording, Website
• Weeks 2-3: Standard operating guidelines, call taking, preparing computer aided dispatch (CAD) incidents, radio monitoring, prepare shift change email
• Weeks 4-6: Call taking, preparing computer aided dispatch (CAD) incidents, Monitoring of and keeping a written or typed log of radio traffic
• Weeks 7-10: Call taking, CAD – Performing all functions, handling radio traffic and dispatching calls for service
• Weeks 11-14: Call taking, CAD – all functions, radio traffic – dispatching calls for service, Texas Criminal Information Center/National Criminal Information Center functions
• Weeks 15-16 (GHOST Phase - Evaluation for release from training): Call taking; CAD – all functions; radio – dispatching all calls for service, answering all radio traffic and responding to radio traffic, Texas Criminal Information Center/National Criminal Information Center functions

4. Can I work remotely?

No, the position of fire communications officer requires you to work out of a secure facility in Bexar County.

5. What will my working hours look like?

With our services being a critical and life-saving resource for Bexar County residents, you will work in a rotating shift assignment that includes nights, weekends, and holidays. 9-1-1 needs to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.