SPOKANE, Wash. — Leaders with Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) are pushing for answers from the City of Spokane, claiming there are risks of delays and potential failures in emergency response as the city works to form its own dispatch system.

“I was fearful for the first time in this process," said Spokane City Councilmember Michael Cathcart.

During a September 22 meeting, Fire Chief Julie O'Berg briefed the city council on expected delays in fire response with a changeover in SREC’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD).

"It will literally have to be a dispatcher calling and saying, 'Do you have an engine or truck or battalion chief available?'” said Chief O'Berg.

Right now, the city and SREC use Automatic Aid, a computer system that dispatches the closest firefighting resou

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