The Berwyn Fire Company agreed to provide the housing for this Central Station and on June 15th the Upper Main Line Fire Board went into operation. The radio room in the Berwyn Fire House became a center of attraction as telephone and radio equipment was installed tying the member companies.

Bill Clark was hired to handle the dispatching during the day and Paul Ahn operates during the night. Chip Pyott and Jim Bowman were hired as relief men so the board could operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

All the companies in the system are dispatched by a radio tone alert. The dispatchers are responsible to dispatch the first and second call companies and also move in cover up companies. Since this system went into effect it has brought the companies together so they now operate like one big Department.

The dispatchers maintain a complete street listing of the entire area covered. This list shows house numbers, hydrant locations and any other information which would be important to a fire department in an emergency.

In addition to the equipment to dispatch the fire companies the fire board also has direct fire alarms for the business, schools, nursing homes or factories available. Anyone who wants to tie into this system can do so by having a leased telephone line installed and when they set off their alarm it is in direct contact with the radio room and the corresponding fire company is dispatched. At the present time the fire board has facilities to handle 100 of these direct alarms.

In addition to handling emergencies for the Upper Main Line Companies the dispatchers also handle many calls for assistance from other counties who may have ambulances enroute to Philadelphia and require directions or police escorts. These outlying counties know that this station is available for assistance and call on them whenever passing through the area.

With this being the first Central Fire Dispatching Station to be set up in Chester County, it has brought interest to many of the other companies in the county. Many of these companies have visited this station to look over the operation and equipment. At present time there is serious consideration to establish other central stations in Chester County patterned after the Upper Main Line Fire Board.