Orland Central Dispatch (OCD) is a fire and EMS-only Emergency Communications Center operated by the Orland Fire Protection District. As the only dedicated fire and EMS communications center serving Chicago's south suburbs, OCD operates as a secondary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), providing fire and EMS emergency communications services for the Blue Island Fire Department, Calumet City Fire Department, Chicago Heights Fire Department, Garden Homes Fire Protection District, Lemont Fire Protection District, Merrionette Park Fire Department, Oak Forest Fire Department, Orland Fire Protection District and Palos Fire Protection District.

Collectively, these agencies protect nearly 250,000 residents across more than 106 square miles of Chicago's south suburbs. OCD provides comprehensive fire, EMS, and rescue call-taking and dispatch services, ensuring the closest appropriate resources are dispatched quickly, accurately, and efficiently to every emergency.

In addition to daily emergency communications, OCD serves as the designated dispatch center for MABAS Division 22 Box Alarm activations, coordinating large-scale mutual aid responses involving:

• Alsip Fire Department
• Blue Island Fire Department
• Calumet Park Fire Department
• Crestwood Fire Department
• Garden Homes Fire Protection District
• Merrionette Park Fire Department
• Midlothian Fire Department
• Posen Fire Department
• Robbins Fire Department

Whether answering a 9-1-1 call, dispatching fire and EMS resources, coordinating multi-agency incidents, or managing regional mutual aid responses, OCD ensures that the closest appropriate resources are dispatched quickly, accurately, and efficiently. In 2025, Orland Central Dispatch processed:

• 48,262 Calls for Service
• 31,476 Emergency (9-1-1) Calls
• 54,979 Administrative & Non-Emergency Calls

Our mission is to preserve life and property through professional, reliable, and accountable emergency communications while supporting the responders we work alongside and the communities we proudly serve.