BUTLER COUNTY, Kan. — Emergency crews had little time to rest Thursday as they responded to a surge of 911 calls amid heightened fire danger. KSN was granted behind-the-scenes access to the Butler County Dispatch Center to observe how dispatchers coordinate emergency responses on critical days lik e Friday. When fire risks are high, every second counts and seamless communication is key. Dispatchers, firefighters, and emergency personnel must work in perfect sync to ensure rapid response and containment efforts. At the Butler County Emergency Communications Center, each call is handled with urgency and precision. Communications officer Hayden Vittitow explained the vital role dispatchers play. “Questioning, providing instructions to people before first responders arrive on the scene, and making sure everything runs smoothly,” Vittitow said. Inside the dispatch center, calls flood in reporting smoke and fast-moving grassfires. Vittitow emphasized the responsibility that comes with the job. “We make sure to be thorough, ask all the questions we need for people who are responding, and do our best to help before anyone gets there,” he said. Technology plays a crucial role in the dispatch process. Monitors display real-time fire activity, allowing dispatchers to pinpoint trouble spots. “We can see hot spots coming in,” Vittitow noted, highlighting how the technology aids response efforts. The efficiency of the system was on display when a small grassfire broke out along K-254. Thanks to swift coordination, firefighters quickly arrived on the scene and contained the fire to less than an acre. “Our crews, we tried to get them out and pre-stage them today,” said Jacob Storm, Assistant Chief of Butler County Fire District 11. “So, we were in a good area to get on it quick. We held it to less than an acre. We still have crews there monitoring it.” Storm also took a moment to praise his team of volunteer firefighters. “Most of them have taken off work today. I would give them the highest praise I could give them. They are taking time out of their day, out of their life, to come here to help protect these communities,” he said. Fire officials urged residents to stay alert and exercise caution. If you see smoke, do not drive into it—call 911 immediately. ...read more read less