The Region - News from Dec. 7, 1986

A proposed $55-million program to revamp the Los Angeles Fire Department’s radio communications and computerized dispatch system was outlined to the Fire Commission by Assistant Fire Chief Merlin Rudd. The first stage, a $28.6-million radio changeover, would place all communications on very high frequency bands, eliminating dead spots and enabling use of only one receiver instead of the present two, Rudd said. He said it could be in place within 1 1/2 years if approved. Improvement of the system within three years would cut down the dispatch time from two minutes to 30 seconds after a call is received through the 911 system, Rudd said.