Now-operational system to help emergency services

The Costa Mesa Telecommunications Department celebrated National Public-Safety Telecommunications Week on Wednesday, opening its office to the public to unveil a new system officials hope will expedite emergency calls and services.

The system — a large screen that places GPS-equipped ambulances and fire trucks on a customizable map — will help dispatchers identify the closest units to an emergency call, and allow them to send units closest to emergencies, said Emergency Services Coordinator Ana Tellez.

The system is countywide, meaning Costa Mesa can see the location of emergency vehicles stationed in neighboring cities as well.

“Newport firefighters can roll into Costa Mesa and vice versa,” she said.

The technology was installed earlier this year, but it was only in the past few weeks that it has been fully operational.

— Chris Caesar