Placer County has a new 911 phone system and it is the first of its kind in the Sacramento region.
The system is designed to allow easier communication between police and fire departments within Placer County.
Erica McNamara is a 911 dispatcher. She says the new system will transfer emergency calls to the first available dispatcher regardless of the location of the caller.
"Say that we are getting inundated with calls due to a major incident. If we can't answer those phone calls, those will get rolled over to Roseville so that they are also answered and that people needing help will get the help that they need or vice-a-versa," says McNamara. "So if Roseville's inundated with something, we would be able to answer their incoming 911 calls."
The system allows monitoring of all calls dispatched within the county including those involving the US Forest Service and California Highway Patrol. It also allows dispatchers to share call information with other agencies.
The new system will connect the county with the cities of Auburn, Lincoln, Rocklin and Roseville.
A 911 phone-bill surcharge was used to pay the system's $1.2 million dollar cost.
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