Who ya gonna call?

If you need police, fire, or emergency medical services in Chester County during an emergency, always call 911.

There is often confusion about when to call 911 versus when to use your local department’s regular telephone number. Here is important information for residents to help make that distinction.

Many fire departments and EMS stations, especially those staffed by volunteers, do not have personnel at the station 24 hours a day to answer the phone. Even stations with on-duty crews may have everyone responding to other emergencies when you call.

If you need a fire truck or ambulance, call 911. Do not spend valuable time trying to reach the station directly.

Local police departments typically provide non-emergency numbers for routine reports, general questions, or administrative matters. Depending on the department and time of day, your call may be answered by office staff or transferred to the Chester County 911 Center.

Some police agencies operate their own dispatch centers, while other areas are assisted by separate communications agencies or the Pennsylvania State Police. No matter which agency serves your community, always call 911 for emergencies. Dispatchers will coordinate your call as needed.

If you are unsure which number to call, here are some guidelines:

For emergencies, call 911 if you witness a crime in progress, see an immediate threat to someone’s safety, are reporting a fire or serious accident, have a medical emergency, or encounter any situation needing an urgent police, fire, or EMS response.

For non-emergencies, use your department’s published non-emergency number for general questions or administrative assistance, routine police matters that do not require immediate response, or other non-urgent concerns.

If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies as an emergency—especially when someone’s safety may be at risk—it is better to call 911 and explain what is happening.

Chester County’s 911 dispatchers are essential to emergency response. They work all hours to collect critical information, dispatch help, and sometimes provide instructions for lifesaving first aid such as CPR or controlling bleeding until help arrives. These dispatchers do much more than answer phones. They are the first people involved in a response and play a crucial role in public safety.

During an emergency, do not waste time trying to reach fire, ambulance, or police stations directly. Call 911 and let emergency professionals coordinate the help you need.

Please consider sharing this information to help increase awareness throughout Chester County. This reminder could make a difference in an emergency.