Arizona fire officials, Gov. Hobbs break ground on new and improved dispatch center in Phoenix

PHOENIX — Construction of a new dispatch center to help Arizona fire and forestry officials solve emergencies more efficiently began on Friday.

Gov. Katie Hobbs spoke about the benefits of the new facility before the groundbreaking at 2901 W. Pinnacle Peak Road in Phoenix.

“There is a lot that goes into keeping Arizona safe from wildfires,” Hobbs said at the news conference. “One of the most important things is communication.”

Dispatch centers serve as hubs for communications during emergencies, she added.

“They’re responsible for making sure that appropriate personnel and resources are used. They facilitate getting the equipment where it needs to go,” Hobbs said. “They mobilize aircraft, cruise personnel, and equipment and are responsible for gathering important intelligence on all risk and incidents.”

Details about new dispatch center

The construction projects will replace the current space, which Hobbs described as outdated and using old technology.

“There’s not enough space for staff, including command and general staff,” Hobbs said. “The new facility is going to have a larger dispatch floor, enough office space for everyone, and just make their jobs keeping Arizona safe across the state much easier.”

The new dispatch center will be 7,000 square feet, which will be large enough to ensure fire and forestry officials can work together under one roof.

“I can’t overstate how important it is to have this facility that will allow all the personnel to be in one location,” Hobbs said. “It allows for smoother operation, faster execution of decisions, sharing of critical information, and better oversight and troubleshooting. All things that are critical when we’re in the middle of a major incident.”

When will Arizona fire and forestry officials start using the new center in Phoenix?

Construction of the new $4.2 million center is expected to wrap up in October.

“Arizonans deserve the highest quality, up-to-date facilities that will ensure the first responders are able to keep them safe,” Hobbs said.

While speaking ahead of the groundbreaking, she reiterated her desire to see a 15% pay raise for firefighters.

Additionally, Hobbs said this center reflects her desire to keep Arizonans safer as wildfires continue to threaten homes and watersheds.

“Continued investments like this are critical as wildfires grow more intense and we have to make sure that we’re equipped for any scenario,” Hobbs said. “This is going to be a game changer for how we respond to wildfires.”

Related

Arizona governor calls for pay raise for firefighters while honoring those who battled LA wildfiresArizona firefighters called to battle wildfires in Los Angeles areaArizona forestry agency allocates $2M to 10 wildfire mitigation projectsRemains found in Grand Canyon identified as hiker missing since 2012Avondale man receives 5-year sentence for distributing fentanylMatt Orlando wins Chandler Mayor’s race as challenger Jeff Weninger concedes