Story originally published by Access WDUN

The Gainesville Fire Department has launched a new real-time digital alert service that will warn drivers when they are approaching an emergency vehicle or a scene that is being worked by public safety personnel.

Gainesville Fire Chief Brandon Ellis recently announced the agency has partnered with HAAS Alert to implement the Safety Cloud service. HAAS Alert described the service as a connected vehicle platform dedicated to road safety.

“This is an extra step the Gainesville Fire Department has taken to better protect the public and first responders while alleviating traffic congestion in the City of Gainesville, Georgia during times of emergency,” Ellis said. “Our hope is this safety solution will not only encourage drivers to consider a different route when they know a hazard’s ahead but reduce the risk of collisions. Additionally, Safety Cloud will aid GFD in tracking fleet and crew statuses, and improve response times and interagency coordination.”

The service will deliver notifications to drivers approaching emergency vehicles, work zones and road hazards through their navigation applications and vehicle infotainment systems.

Ellis said Safety Cloud links with the Apple Maps and Waze navigation apps, as well as the dashboard of many newer-model vehicles. 

"Safety Cloud alerts are now delivered in the infotainment screen of millions of vehicles through a partnership with global automaker Stellantis," HAAS Alert states. "So drivers of 2018 and newer models of Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Alfa Romeo vehicles all receive Safety Cloud alerts through the new Emergency Vehicle Alert System feature."

HAAS Alert is working to expand the alerts to other services and vehicles so all drivers can receive these alerts.

"The way it's designed is anytime we have our lights engaged to run emergency to an incident, as long as our lights are engaged for over so many seconds consistently, and the truck senses that we're moving forward ... it automatically starts broadcasting the signal," Ellis said.

Ellis said it costs about $1500 to outfit the entire department.

“Within 12 months, everything should be outfitted,” he said.

The Smart Cloud system is not the only effort the fire department has made to improve response times. Ellis said the Gainesville Fire Department already completed emergency vehicle preemption at 18 intersections, the majority of which fall along Jesse Jewell Parkway in downtown Gainesville.

"This gives first response fire apparatus a green light on their approach to a signalized intersection while providing a red light to conflicting approaches," a release from the City of Gainesville said. "Moving forward, GFD will continue to pursue preemption at additional intersections."