RFD Encourages Residents and Business Owners to Sign Up for Community Connect

The Reno Fire Department (RFD) encourages residents and business owners to sign up for Community Connect, a free program that helps first responders prepare for and respond more effectively to emergency situations. Participants will be asked to share important household and property information such as emergency contacts, mobility needs, medical conditions, pets, fire safety features, and more.

"It's important for all of our residents to take part in this program so the Reno Fire Department can serve them most effectively," said Reno Fire Chief David Cochran. "Emergencies are the most critical situations, and the information shared through this program can make the difference in saving someone's life."

Residents and business owners can go to the Community Connect website to create an account using an email, phone number, and address. From there, residents can enter any valuable information to help first responders during an emergency.

Information that can be shared for households:

• Property characteristics
  • Share details like your residence type, fire sprinklers, and family meeting places to help RFD respond effectively.
• People living in the residence
  • Identify who lives there and who to contact so responders can access the home, locate occupants, and address hazards.
• Medical needs
  • Let RFD know about mobility or other functional needs so responders can plan and assist more quickly.
• Pets
  • Tell us about your pets so they can be safely located and evacuated during an incident.

Information that can be shared for businesses:

• Emergency plans
  • Upload documents or images outlining your emergency procedures.
• Who works there
  • Share information about staff, including any mobility or functional needs.
• Property characteristics
  • Provide key details on access, utilities, fire systems, and hazardous materials.
• Business owner contact information
  • Add contact details so we can notify you or your team during an emergency.

All information shared with the platform is secure and is only used for emergency situations. All logins are password protected with bank-level encryption and security.

In addition to Community Connect, residents can also sign up for Smart 911 through Washoe County. This emergency alert system asks for similar information and provides alerts during active emergencies such as fires, floods, and more.