Pittsburgh modernizes incident documentation and mobile response
Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire modernized from a legacy 1996-era reporting system to First Due, bringing dispatch data into documentation in seconds, putting pre-plans on iPads, and enabling faster leadership reporting.
"Firehouse took about an hour for incident documentation to show up. With First Due, our calls come across in seconds."
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Operational Impact & Key Outcomes
1 Hour To Seconds
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From 1 Day → 20-Min data Reporting
233 Inspections Completed
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The Story
Background
Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire needed to modernize from a heavily customized incident reporting system first purchased in 1996. The legacy platform depended on fragile workarounds to get dispatch data into reporting.
Challenge
The prior process introduced delays and friction right after incidents. It could take about an hour for dispatch information to appear in reporting, and the click-heavy workflow contributed to incomplete reports and lost time.
Solution
After an RFP and vendor evaluation, Pittsburgh selected First Due. The team tested workflows in a sandbox, documented required enhancements, and went live with Incident Documentation and Mobile Responder while rolling iPads out to units so crews can complete reports on scene.
Results
Dispatch and incident documentation now arrive in seconds, helping crews complete reports before returning to quarters. Prevention and operations are also connected: inspections feed pre-plan intelligence to iPads in the field, and leadership reporting for stakeholders dropped from a day of manual work to about 20 minutes.
About
Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire
Quick facts
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Put the right building intel in every rig before you arrive
Mobile Responder and iPad access help crews view CAD notes, hydrant context, and pre-plans created through inspections so officers can find critical details without guesswork.
In their own words:
- What pushed Pittsburgh to look for a new system?
- The department was using a legacy system purchased in 1996 that required workarounds just to bring dispatch information into reporting.
- What was the legacy process like?
- Dispatch data came in through parsers and text-file workarounds to assign units and complete reports.
- How did timing change after go-live?
- Incident documentation moved from taking about an hour to appearing in seconds.
- What’s been a standout win with iPads in the field?
- Crews used pre-plans from inspections on iPads to locate an alarm panel quickly and relay the location to command.
- Why does unit tracking matter in Pittsburgh?
- Topography can stack apparatus on the same streets; tracking helps command route resources more effectively during major incidents.
Ready to modernize your operations like Pittsburgh?
See how First Due helps major metro departments consolidate tools, speed up reporting, and put critical intel in crews’ hands.
