Canaan, NY — 9th March — The new Columbia County 911 dispatch center at 50 Grandinetti Drive in Ghent has begun operations, according to the Canaan Protective Fire Company, PO Box 207/2126 State Route 295 in Canaan. Dispatcher Frank Martin, unit 1176, answered the first call at the new facility. Director Kevin Johnson (unit 1173) and Andrew Ludwig (unit 1161) were both on duty.

Throughout Columbia County, the dispatch center facilitates emergency communications for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services. By connecting dispatchers with field units and handling incident communications, contemporary 911 centers are essential to the coordination of emergency response. The new Ghent facility was built to enhance coordination and bolster regional dispatch capabilities for first responders serving the county's municipalities.