Vancouver, B.C.–At 0815hrs today, Pitt Meadows Fire & Rescue Services officially cutover to the E-Comm Wide-Area Radio Network, the largest multi‐jurisdictional, tri‐service, wide‐area radio network in the province. With this transition, firefighters are now able to seamlessly communicate over the radio with other emergency service agencies – including Ridge Meadows RCMP and BC Ambulance Service. This increased interoperability between first responders ultimately enhances the emergency response capabilities for the safety of both the public and Pitt Meadows firefighters.
“Joining the E-Comm radio system is a critical part of keeping our first responders and the public safe in an emergency,” said Bill Dingwall, Pitt Meadows Mayor. “Being able to have our first responders access and share information with each other, as quickly and efficiently as possible, will allow for better response that meets the safety needs of our community.”
“This much-needed new and improved communications system will allow us to talk directly and seamlessly with other first responders, which will be particularly beneficial when responding to multi-agency calls like motor vehicle crashes and large-scale incidents in difficult to access areas such as Pitt Lake,” said Mike Larsson, Pitt Meadows Fire Chief. “Not only will our firefighters have state-of-the-art radio communications, but it will help facilitate faster emergency response for the residents of Pitt Meadows.”
E-Comm’s radio network provides Pitt Meadows firefighters with stronger and wider radio coverage, greater clarity, improved reliability and enhanced security features through an earthquake-resistant infrastructure. The fully encrypted P25 network also better protects the privacy of the public, as first responders often need to communicate necessary personal and private information over the radio.
“In addition to 9-1-1 call answer and police dispatch services, we’re very pleased to expand our public safety relationship with the City of Pitt Meadows as Pitt Meadows Fire and Rescue Services joins our radio system,” said Oliver Grüter-Andrew, E-Comm President and CEO. “From battling fires to responding to complex rescues, firefighters work in the utmost challenging environments in which communication is paramount. Being able to provide enhanced, crystal-clear and secure radio communications is critical in keeping first responders and the residents of Pitt Meadows safe.”
BC Emergency Health Services within Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford, all police agencies in Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford and 17 fire departments in Metro Vancouver use the E-Comm Wide-Area Radio Network to communicate with one another. The network has about 10,000 active or available radios. In 2020, firefighters, police officers, paramedics and municipal users made approximately 53.7 million transmissions on the network.
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About E-Comm
E-Comm is the first point of contact for 9-1-1 callers in 25 regional districts in British Columbia and provides dispatch services for more than 70 police agencies and fire departments. E‐Comm also owns and operates the largest multi‐jurisdictional, tri‐service, wide‐area radio network in the province used by police, fire and ambulance personnel throughout Metro Vancouver and parts of the Fraser Valley.
Media Contacts:
E-Comm
Dolly Loi
Communications Specialist
[email protected]
604-215-6248
City of Pitt Meadows
Carolyn Baldridge
Manager of Communications and Community Engagement
[email protected]