By 
May 5, 2025
The dreaded three-digit phone number, 9-1-1. The one phone call no one ever wants to make, but when you do, you can expect a prompt answer and a swift response. Who are these faceless heroes helping citizens through their crises?
That would be the Huntsville Fire & Rescue Communications Division. The calm voice on the other end of the call is always at the ready to send help to you as fast as possible, and this is no small feat.
It’s a constant juggling act to make sure the caller’s concern is assessed, that first responders arriving at the scene are safe and other agencies involved are receiving communication properly. That’s just one phone call. Now, do it repeatedly over an 8-12 hour shift.
Huntsville Fire & Rescue Communications Manager Eric Jean
“The Communications team is a group of rock stars,” said Fire Communications Manager Eric Jean. “We’re always looking out for each other and checking in on how each person is coping with these difficult situations.”
It’s a 24/7 operation. Through tornado season, winter freezes and missed holidays with their families, dispatchers are at their stations, prepared to answer the call for help. Despite those demands, the turnover at the Huntsville Fire Communications Division within the 9-1-1 Center remains low.
“A dispatcher is not a role that everyone can do, largely due to the nature of the position,” Jean said. “To have employees stay here for the long term reflects how well senior leadership supports our staff and allows us to go above and beyond to make sure the division can perform to the best of our ability.”
The Communications Division may operate behind the scenes, but their impact is central to all emergency responses at HFR. Though their voices are often all the public encounters, the compassion and professionalism behind each call demonstrates a team that exemplifies true service.
