Can you explain how First Due has helped multiple agencies effectively serve the Boston Marathon?

Yes. In the town of Natick, we cover over three miles of the Boston Marathon route. The race route takes our community and cuts it in half. Because of this, we need to create two fire departments, one to protect the north side of town and one to protect the south side of the town and provide coverage for the Marathon itself. Covering the race route has unique problems, such as access to areas with no vehicle access and not being permitted to cross the route.  

We have mutual aid partners from many surrounding communities, some of which use First Due, and others do not. Before the Marathon, we created First Due logins for all the agencies' units we expected to participate in. At the morning briefing, each unit was given their assignment and provided a one-sheet tutorial on how to access First Due. We also enabled tracking for each unit, providing an overall operational view available and displayed in the emergency operations center.  

How did you strategically plan your response area and unit tracking using First Due?

Luckily the Boston Marathon's only been running for about 127 years, so we've got a little practice at it, but each year we do fine-tune our unit placement. And one of the things that's beneficial this year, with the unit tracking, is that we could see where the incidents were on the map, which unit was close enough and had the best access, and where they could then transport to from that location. So we were able to place our apparatus along the route.

Do having the units on the map and being able to place your apparatus help you respond more effectively and strategically?  

We certainly respond to marathon-related incidents more appropriately. In the past, when people call in an issue during the marathon, they're reporting a problem somewhere on the marathon route, and they'll describe a landmark to communicate the location. Having limited details on the incident location can make it difficult to pinpoint if we need extra resources. A lot is happening on the race route, and if additional units are required, having the specific location of the on-scene units is very helpful.  

For instance, two years ago, we had a cardiac arrest in the middle of the marathon route. We were initially told it was in one area, and we had to coordinate additional units at a pinpointed location, which took time. We have Gators, Utility Terrain Vehicles that are driving on the route. With First Due, we can now see when they pull up and stop at an active incident. We can see them on the map and know exactly where that incident is. So that's a huge benefit.  

The biggest thing is knowing what units are available, where they are, and where we can place them, especially for a larger-scale event. Having those units across the community, collaborating strategically with mutual aid units, and placing them accordingly is a huge benefit.  

What challenges do departments face when managing a significant event like the Boston Marathon?  

There can be a lot of radio traffic when there is a large-scale event, like the Marathon. With many people talking on the radio simultaneously, getting essential details about each incident can be difficult. The benefit of having First Due is that the incident information comes across directly through the application. For example, suppose they get a medical emergency at a location. In that case, they can pull open the app and get all the additional details from the dispatcher with minimal radio traffic, so it also streamlines radio communications.

What is your favorite feature in First Due?  

One of my favorite features is the incident documentation. It is incredibly fast and easy, which is very helpful for us who are on the go and need a seamless platform. The unit tracking via the web and mobile is also excellent because you can have it up in dispatch or anywhere you need to see unit tracking, which is highly beneficial.  

How do you plan on using First Due to pre-plan the Boston Marathon in the future?  

We plan to expand the use of First Due for future marathons, focusing on things like means of access and egress routes and staging locations. Next year, we'll have more in the system about roadblocks, restricted access, parking, and other nuances so our crews know how to get around even better. As well as scheduling the unique Marathon-related assignments. Overall, pre-planning helps us ensure this large-scale event goes on without problems.