You can contact your local fire department at:
Baldwin City Fire Department
Clinton Township Fire Department
Eudora Fire Department
Eudora Township Fire Department
For these issues, you can contact your local Police Department or the City of Lawrence's Municipal Court/City Prosecutor at:
Baldwin City Police Department
Eudora Police Department
1) What is the location of the emergency? This is the address where the emergency is actually happening. If you do not know the actual address, tell the dispatcher. They may ask the following:
2) When asked for a location, we need you to be specific.
You should be prepared to answer questions like these:
While you are answering these questions, the dispatcher is also alerting the appropriate fire stations or another co-worker is alerting the appropriate fire stations and getting help on the way.
If you accidentally dial 911, do not hang-up. Stay on the line and tell the dispatcher that everything is alright. If you don't, the dispatcher will automatically think that something is wrong and send a police officer to check.
The same dispatchers who answer the 911 calls also answer the non-emergency calls for service for all law enforcement agencies in Douglas County. When the dispatch center is busy, the dispatchers have to ask non-emergency callers to hold on while they answer the 911 calls. Every effort is made to get back to you as quickly as possible, and your patience and understanding is appreciated.
911 is for emergencies or things that could become emergencies.
If the situation seems urgent and has the potential to become dangerous, call 911. Dispatchers will determine whether your call should be handled by 911 or can be transferred to another person or agency. All other calls should be directed the non-emergency numbers.
When you dial 911, you will speak to a fully trained Communications Officer in the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center. The dispatcher will relay all pertinent information received, via radio or phone, to the appropriate responding agency, be it Police, Fire, Ambulance.
Emergency dispatchers need to get accurate information to allow officers to make the best decision on how to approach the situation. Dispatchers handling fire and paramedic calls must also consider the well-being of the public and the safety of the firefighters and paramedics. Callers will be asked:
The information you provide a dispatcher is relayed to responding officers, paramedics or firefighters while they are on their way to the call.
The ECC also implemented an Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program in December 2004. The EMD protocols allow dispatchers to provide valuable medical pre-arrival and dispatch life support instructions to callers while an ambulance is responding to the location. Every Communications Officer must maintain EMD certification, which includes an initial 24 hour class, followed by continuing education requirements for recertification every 2 years.