MANCHESTER-BY-THE SEA — Responding to fires and public safety calls is part and parcel for the Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Department.
But the town’s firefighters also have an eye toward their informational footprint on the web. As such, the Manchester Fire Department, 12 School St., is extolling the virtues of its new website — www.mbtsfire.com.
The new site is designed to enable residents and fire officials to be better prepared in the event of a potential emergency, Fire Chief James “Jake” McNeilly said.
The website is vital to building ties with residents. Plus, he said the site “is user friendly.
“One of the core focuses of the Fire Department is community outreach and giving the community the information they need,” McNeilly said. “There’s a lot more to better communication with the new site.”
The site provides users access to the Fire Department’s permit applications, resources, news about department activities, fire prevention information, and “Community Connect.”
“Community Connect allows residents to put in information about their property,” McNeilly said. “This helps.”
Such information, he said, might include locations of bedrooms or utility “shutoff” devices, enabling firefighters to quickly and easily access their properties on calls.
In addition, the site offers emergency preparedness tips and also directs users to a live audio feed.
The new site illustrates several Fire Department initiatives, providing information about fire inspections and the proper installation of car seats for children, the chief said.
McNeilly touted the “RAVE alerts” section of www.mbtsfire.com, which provides emergency alert information regarding severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods.
Town Administrator Greg Federspiel said the site cost “a few thousand dollars which came from the department’s general operating budget.”
“The new website provides a fresh, updated perspective on the services of the Fire Department and an easier interface for fire permits,” he said.
Federspiel said the town’s website, manchester.ma.us, has been updated through a contract with website host Civic Plus.
“Again, a fresh look, easier to navigate and better search capabilities,” he said. “We have the general town website, specific sites for Police and Fire, and a fourth site for (the) Park and Recreation program registration purposes.”
Visitors are encouraged to subscribe to the Fire Department’s site via e-mail to stay updated with department news and follow its Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Stephen Hagan can be reached at 978-675-2708 or at shagan@gloucestertimes.com.