The Columbia Fire Department has adopted a new AI-powered software called Darkhorse Emergency, with hopes to improve response times, identify high-risk areas and update emergency plans.

The city approved this tool earlier this year, which costs about $40,000 annually, and the department began using it in July. Darkhorse Emergency tracks dispatch and records systems to pull in data about 911 calls, neighborhood demographics, water supply and road conditions.

Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said the software allows his team to test “what-if” circumstances, to determine the best places for new fire stations and improve response times. The ultimate goal is to keep the community safer and to minimize the time it takes to arrive at an emergency situation.

“Time really matters,” Schaeffer said. “It

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