Brown County Public Safety Communications: Goes live with modernized Mutual Aid response coordination

Brown County Public Safety Communications (BCPSC) is announcing plans to go live by June 15th with HIEBA, a modern digital platform for managing Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) responses across all fire and emergency medical service agencies served by Brown County’s consolidated 9-1-1 dispatch center.

The transition replaces traditional static box cards with a real-time, mobile-accessible system that enables dispatchers, incident commanders, and responding agencies to coordinate resources with greater speed, accuracy, and visibility during fire, rescue, hazardous materials, and mass-casualty incidents.

“Brown County is committed to providing the highest level of emergency communications service to our residents and to the agencies that protect them,” said Chris Brownell, Brown County Public Safety Communications supervisor. “HIEBA gives our telecommunicators and our fire and EMS partners a modern, reliable tool to coordinate mutual aid quickly and consistently, supporting better outcomes when seconds matter.” 

HIEBA digitizes MABAS box cards and integrates dispatching workflows, real-time unit tracking, and standardized communication scripts into a single platform. The system is in use by more than 500 public safety agencies across the United States and is purpose-built to align with established MABAS operational principles.

“We are honored to partner with Brown County and proud to support the dedicated professionals who serve its communities every day,” said Eric Howlett, CEO of HIEBA System Solutions. “Brown County’s decision to modernize its mutual aid coordination reflects a strong commitment to operational excellence and to the safety of both first responders and the public. We are deeply committed to standing alongside their team, delivering reliable technology, responsive support, and a long-term partnership that helps them continue to set the standard for emergency communications.”

Implementation included close collaboration between BCPSC, local fire and EMS leadership, MABAS-Wisconsin partners, and HIEBA System Solutions, encompassing configuration of agency-specific box cards, telecommunicator training, and full system validation prior to go-live.

“The Brown County MABAS Division 112 supports this upgrade 100% and we are excited for the new technology,” said Al Matzke, Brown County MABAS Division 112 President.  “The real time accessibility will streamline the process for both responders and telecommunicators.”