Arlington Fire Department moved from dinosaur-age systems to response-ready crews
Arlington Fire Department modernized response, pre-plans, and incident documentation so critical CAD notes and occupancy details are available in the cab before the rig rolls.
"We basically went from the dinosaur age to the 21st century."
Measurable impact
9–10/10
Response Readiness When the Bay Doors Roll Up
2–4×
4 X Easier Reporting
1
1 Platform With Real-Time Sync
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The Story
Background
Arlington Fire Department serves a busy Eastern Massachusetts community where mutual aid and coordination are part of everyday operations.
The department wanted a modern, mobile-first way to respond and document incidents—without forcing crews to juggle multiple apps or fight outdated workflows.
Challenge
Before First Due, Arlington used an RMS described as being “from the nineties” and did not have an in-vehicle MDT workflow.
As a result, critical details—occupancy hazards, access information, and prior pre-plan work—weren’t consistently available at the moment they mattered most.
Solution
Arlington implemented First Due across the suite, focusing first on the response experience with Mobile Responder and connecting it to Pre-Incident Planning and Incident Documentation.
Now, when a call drops, responders can see the address, CAD notes, routing, and (when available) pre-plan details right inside the apparatus.
Results
Preparedness improved immediately: when a pre-plan exists, crews can access stairwells, FDC/standpipe connections, Knox Box locations, and site details during the time of response.
Incident reporting is also faster and easier for line personnel, and leadership can pull ad hoc reporting for chiefs and planning stakeholders without the friction of older systems.
About
Arlington Fire Department
Quick facts
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Put pre-plan intelligence in the cab—automatically
First Due Mobile Responder delivers the information crews need during the time of response—CAD notes, mapping, occupancy history, and pre-plan details—so teams arrive ready to act.
When pre-plans exist, responders can access stairwells, FDC/standpipes, Knox Box locations, and critical site notes right at their fingertips.
In their own words:
- What First Due modules have you implemented so far?
- Response, pre-plan, and incident documentation—essentially the whole suite except for Community Connect at this time.
- Which area has seen the biggest impact?
- The response experience—having pre-plan information, the address, and CAD notes appear in the vehicle before crews roll out.
- What were you using before First Due?
- An RMS from the nineties, without any MDT terminal or in-vehicle workflow.
- How prepared are your responders now on a scale of 1 to 10?
- A nine or a ten—stairwells, FDC connections, and Knox Box locations are available when pre-plans exist.
- What changed when you consolidated tools into one suite?
- Ease of use—everything is in one place instead of jumping between applications.
- How does real-time syncing help your team?
- Whether members are in the field or back at the station, information stays synced in real time for everyone.
- Where has First Due helped beyond response?
- Documentation and ad hoc reporting—leadership can support chiefs and planning stakeholders with clearer data.
- How much easier is reporting now compared to your previous system?
- Two to four times easier, and members complete reports much faster.
- Has First Due helped with mutual-aid interoperability?
- As more communities adopt First Due, interoperability and response coordination for large incidents should improve.
- What’s your view on AI in the fire service?
- Anything that speeds up tedious tasks and helps crews get ready for the next incident is a benefit for everyone.
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See how First Due can help your agency modernize operations, improve readiness, and reduce administrative friction.
