Aurora Fire Department launces new open data website

The Aurora Fire Department, in collaboration with the city’s Data and Analytics Division, has launched a new public website to provide data about the fire department’s operations.

The Aurora Fire Department Open Data Portal currently provides data about the department’s fire prevention efforts, such as the number of carbon monoxide calls that have been responded to and the attendance rate of community engagement events, according to a news release from the city of Aurora on Thursday.

The portal also has statistics about the city’s Emergency Management Agency, such as the number of exercise hours completed and the number of community volunteers, the release said.

“The Aurora Fire Department Open Data Portal is a major step forward,” Aurora Fire Chief David McCabe said in the release. “It enhances transparency and empowers residents with key information on fire prevention and emergency management, helping us better serve and protect our community.”

The portal can be found online at www.aurora-il.org/AFDOpenData

According to the portal, the fire department has responded to a total of 92 carbon monoxide calls this year. Last year, the department responded to 177 carbon monoxide calls, the portal says.

The emergency management webpage in the portal says that the agency clocked 230 hours of exercises in 2023. Exercises are simulated events that let city staff members and other participants have discussions, plan and move around resources to build upon their training, according to the webpage.

In addition to statistics, the portal also has information that residents may find useful, officials said. One interactive map can help residents find the fire and medical service that covers their home or business, while another shows where the city’s warning sirens are located.

Work-in-progress portions of the webpage show that the portal may also soon contain statistics and information about EMS and fire responses.

rsmith@chicagotribune.com

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