NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — When New Bedford firefighters arrive at a home that has taken advantage of the department’s new online tool, first responders will already have potentially life-saving information.

Through Community Connect , New Bedford residents and business owners can enter important information about their property. In a future emergency when firefighters or emergency medical services are on the way, they will already know critical details.

“Knowing if there are pets in the home, if the building has sprinklers, if someone has mobility issues, or even just how many bedrooms or floors your home has can make a huge difference in how we approach a fire scene,” New Bedford Fire Chief Scott Kruger said. “If a call comes in, we can review these details on the way to the property, saving us critical minutes upon arrival.”

The city said information entered into the program is protected with “bank-level encryption and security.” The information will only be shared with the New Bedford Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services.

The tool’s launch coincides with Fire Prevention Week , which runs through Oct. 12.

It only takes a few minutes to sign up and enter information. You can register online by clicking here .

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