WALKER, Mich. — The Alpine Fire Department is implementing an app in the hopes of shortening their response times during rescue situations.
"what3words" is an app that divides most of the globe into 10-foot-by-10-foot squares and assigns a unique three-word combination to each one. If someone is lost or injured on a trail or in a remote area, they can send their unique location to first responders to help them find their location quicker.
Lt. Brian Stalsonburg with the Alpine Township Fire Department said the app can shorten response times by 15 or 20 minutes, depending on the situation.
"When we're looking for somebody that's either lost or injured, if we can get that precise location right away, it just expedites our response and gets them to care a whole lot quicker than us having to send out search parties to try to find them," he said.
While what3words doesn't replace calling 911, Stalsonburg said the app can come in handy if you need help and don't have cell service. The sheriff's office dispatch center is able to access the app to send help to the right location.
The Plainfield Fire Department and the Tallmadge Township Fire Department use what3words, and Stalsonburg said both departments have had success with it.
"As long as the caller can relate to us what their what3words location is, we can basically navigate directly to them without having to waste a bunch of time trying to find them," he said.
what3words is free to download.
To learn more or to download what3words, click here.
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