How collaboration and technology come together to deliver faster, more efficient service
La Serena and Coquimbo have taken a historic step in the way they respond to emergencies, unifying their fire department operations and creating a model that could serve as an example for other municipalities in Chile. As reported by the newspaper El Día, the initiative is made possible by the VIPER ONE system, technology that connects the dispatch centers of both fire departments and enables automatic dispatch of units to fires, accidents and other emergencies.
Removing barriers to speed up help
For more than 150 years, the La Serena and Coquimbo fire departments operated completely independently. When an emergency exceeded one municipality’s capacity, a slow authorization process was needed to request support from the other. With VIPER ONE, that administrative barrier disappears: now, if no engine is available in Coquimbo, the system automatically identifies and dispatches one from La Serena, or vice versa, with no prior authorization required. This change not only speeds up the response but also optimizes the use of existing resources, getting the help needed to the right place as quickly as possible.
A more effective response for the community
The recent fire on Infante Street, in the heart of La Serena, was the perfect opportunity to put the new system to the test. While La Serena’s companies fought the flames, two Coquimbo fire engines quickly joined in to bring the emergency under control more effectively. This initiative strengthens the safety of residents of both municipalities, which together form the fourth-largest urban area in the country. Today they can count on 18 fire companies (11 in Coquimbo and 7 in La Serena) ready to respond to a call for help in an integrated way.
Innovation that looks to the future
Although the two institutions keep their administrative and legal independence, this operational integration can serve as an example for other neighboring cities. Coquimbo Fire Department Superintendent Exequiel Martínez confirmed the importance of geographically close cities exploring similar collaboration mechanisms. Both municipalities are also working on new joint projects, such as acquiring engines built to international standards, reflecting their intention to stay at the forefront in emergency equipment and protocols.
Commitment, technology and public service
At VIPER, we are very proud to see how VIPER ONE is transforming the way La Serena and Coquimbo firefighters respond to emergencies. After all, the heart of volunteers’ work is saving lives and protecting the community, and technological and collaborative advances like this aim at exactly that goal. La Serena Fire Department Superintendent Ángelo Pizarro put it clearly: “In the end, people don’t care whether it’s an engine from Coquimbo or La Serena that comes to help them. What matters is that the response is fast and effective.”
This milestone marks a turning point in the history of two fire departments with a century-old tradition, which are now adapting to new challenges with the help of innovation and technology. From our VIPER blog, we celebrate this great step and reaffirm our commitment to keep driving solutions that strengthen safety and improve people’s quality of life. Congratulations to our brave firefighters in La Serena and Coquimbo on this historic unification!