Fire Service Data and Tech Talk: Real-Time Deployment Optimization

 

In this episode of Fire Service Data and Tech Talk, host Eddie Buchanan takes a close-up look at the ways real-time deployment optimization is reshaping fire service operations. Joined by Jamie Timm, a public safety software expert with 15 years’ experience, and Captain Jason Heartisan of the Prescott (AZ) Fire Department, they explore harnessing data, geographic information systems (GIS), and CAD integrations to improve response times and resource allocation. Prescott’s story highlights dramatic results: a 90% reduction in unnecessary move-ups and a jump in call-catching efficiency from 6% to 57%, driving down average response times from 11 minutes toward the department’s 6.5-minute goal. They discuss the challenges of adoption, stakeholder collaboration, and the evolving role of predictive algorithms—which blend operations research science with local policy—to make smarter, data-driven decisions in fast-changing environments. This episode reveals how leveraging technology not only boosts operational efficiency but also addresses budget constraints and personnel workload, setting a blueprint for fire departments aiming to work smarter, not harder.