Residents urged to sign up for Community Connect to help firefighters better plan their response

Photo supplied by Marion County Fire Rescue

In most house fires, able-bodied people are already trying to get out by the time firefighters arrive. But for those who can’t — such as residents with disabilities, elderly family members, or even pets — first responders need to know immediately where to look first, until everyone is found.

A new program called Community Connect allows Marion County residents to securely share that kind of information with Marion County Fire Rescue before an emergency happens. The free online portal lets homeowners alert the department where vulnerable occupants are located inside the home, and how to reach them if something is reported wrong at the property.

The goal, MCFR officials say, isn’t just to reach a home faster, it’s to arrive already informed.

When firefighters know whether a home has fire sprinklers, how to access it, or where critical shutoffs and sleeping areas are, they can make faster, safer, and more strategic decisions once they’re on scene.

“When our crews know access details ahead of time, such as the correct gate, code, or best entrance for an engine, it can make a real difference,” said Division Chief Bradley Olmsted, who oversees community risk reduction. “Having that verified information allows us to go straight to work instead of trying to figure it out under pressure. Those few minutes matter when we’re deciding what to prioritize.”

So far, fewer than 60 county residents have registered since the program launched this summer.

What residents can share

Through the Community Connect portal, residents can provide details in four key areas:

• Your Property: Type of residence, fire protection features such as sprinklers, and designated family meeting places.
• Your People: Contact information for household members and those who can help responders reach or identify occupants.
• Your Needs: Information about mobility or medical conditions that may require special assistance.
• Your Pets: Descriptions and photos of household animals so firefighters can help account for them during an emergency.

The information is encrypted and only visible to authorized fire rescue personnel and emergency communications staff. Sensitive data—including gate codes or medical notes—appear only to responding crews during an active call.

Information protected from disclosure

According to Chief Assistant Marion County Attorney Dana Olesky, information provided through Community Connect is not considered a public record under Florida law.

“The information that citizens would be providing through the Community Connect portal would be exempt from disclosure … since the information is being provided for emergency response,” Olesky wrote in an email.

She cited several exemptions under Florida Statute 119.071, including:

• Access instructions, gate codes, contact and occupant information, utility shutoff locations – §119.071(3)(a)
• Optional floor plans – §119.071(3)(b)
• Mobility or medical details, photos, or pet information – covered under a combination of §119.071(3)(a), §252.355, and §401.30(4)

Attorney for the city of Ocala, William Sexton, said that while he agreed that information provided through the community connect portal could be considered exempt from disclosure under the statutes cited by Olesky, he could not commit to saying all information provided whatsoever would be exempt from a public record disclosure.

“We’d have to consider each piece of information in the [community connect] record to see if there was a corresponding statutory exemption for that particular piece of data,” he explained.

Olmsted said the county’s next step is to raise awareness about the program.

“Our Community Risk Reduction Battalion Chief will be bringing this information and a QR code to all community outreach events,” he said. “We’re also working to include the QR code on next year’s county tax bill so residents can easily access the program.”

Ocala Fire Rescue, which launched its own Community Connect portal in 2020, has recorded 202 resident sign-ups, according to Fire Chief Clint Welborn.

Olmsted said he hopes Marion County’s numbers will grow as more people understand how much a little preparation can help firefighters make life-saving choices.

Marion County residents can register for free at communityconnect.io/info/fl-marioncounty.

Ocala residents can register at communityconnect.io/info/fl-ocala.