Holts Summit Fire Implements New Emergency Vehicle Warning System

Brad O'Neal, spokesperson for the HSFPD, says there's a common misconception people have about the system.

"It's not like an Amber Alert system," O'Neal said. "You're not going to get a mass notification with a loud alert at 3 o'clock in the morning while you're sleeping in bed that there's an emergency vehicle in your neighborhood. It's designed primarily for highway use."

O'Neal also says there's some concerns for the system as well.

"People think that we're beaming a radio signal from our apparatus into their personal vehicle," O'Neal said. "Invading their privacy, shutting down their car computer so that they can't drive through a scene. It couldn't be farther from the truth."

The department has gotten some positive comments from the community on the alert system. 

"As a hard of hearing person this is going to be super helpful to all of us HOH/deaf drivers who can’t hear sirens and aren’t close enough to the scene yet to see the lights! This is awesome!' one comment on Facebook said. 

Aun says HAAS is currently working on ways to make the emergency alert system compatible with more vehicles. 

HSFPD said the implementation of Safety Cloud® is thanks to a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation.