Editor’s note: Chief Richard Kelley will present “Efficiency and Safety at Scale” at the Technology Summit International on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. Learn more about TSI and Chief Kelley’s session and register today.
By Fire Chief Richard Kelley
In today’s fast-paced emergency services environment, effective communication, operational clarity and streamlined workflows are essential to mission success. Recognizing this, the Oklahoma City Fire Department (OKCFD) knew it needed a technology shift to address its disconnected workflows and inefficient reporting system. The team ultimately selected Microsoft’s digital ecosystem to build a centralized common operating landing page utilizing SharePoint, a dynamic digital hub designed to enhance department-wide communication, improve operational visibility, and simplify connectivity across divisions.
A strategic choice for long-term success
While we have never claimed to be the industry’s tech showpiece, OKCFD has consistently been an early adopter of emerging technologies. Our journey began with small steps, dabbling in learning management systems and building internal tools using Microsoft Access. These early efforts laid the foundation for a broader digital transformation.
After evaluating several promising tech providers, we made the decision to invest our time and resources into building an interconnected platform using Microsoft’s suite of tools. This decision was driven by a need for continuous communication with our personnel and a desire to replace outdated processes, like big chief tablets and composition notebooks, with modern, mobile-first applications.
Building a unified platform
By leveraging the full Microsoft ecosystem — Power Apps, Power BI, SharePoint and Teams — we have created a unified digital environment that connects our most vital performance metrics and operational workflows. Key data points such as response times, turnout times and travel times are now tracked in real time. This provides both leadership and field crews with immediate insight into performance trends and areas for improvement.
But our transformation goes far beyond analytics. We have digitized and automated many of our core processes. Tasks that once required paper forms and manual tracking are now handled through intuitive, mobile-friendly applications. Whether it’s rig checks, smoke alarm installations, wellness assessments, fitness evaluations or burn permit management, every workflow is now streamlined through Power Apps. These apps are supported by detailed dashboards and reporting tools powered by Power BI, giving us the ability to visualize trends, identify gaps and make data-driven decisions.
Beyond operations: HR and personnel tools
The synergy we have created through Microsoft’s platform now extends beyond field operations. We have developed a comprehensive HR application that empowers personnel to manage their own information and requests. Firefighters can now:
- Update personal contact information
- Submit education and incentive requests
- Request military leave
- Donate sick leave request
- Submit mileage reimbursement
Each request follows a built-in algorithm that ensures it is routed to the appropriate supervisor(s) for approval. Once completed, the system provides a digital receipt to the requesting party and maintains a full record of the transaction. This level of automation not only improves transparency but also ensures accountability and consistency across the department.
Empowering crews with mobile access and real-time data
With access to smartphones, department-issued iPads, laptops and Toughbooks, our personnel can now complete tasks and submit reports from anywhere, whether in the field or at the station. This mobility has revolutionized our daily operations. Firefighters spend less time on administrative tasks and more time focusing on mission-critical activities.
The benefits are numerous. We now have access to detailed, real-time data that supports informed decision-making. Our reporting capabilities have become more robust, allowing us to clearly communicate our needs, justify resource requests and demonstrate the impact of our services. This is a win-win scenario: increased efficiency and usability for our firefighters, and powerful, actionable insights for fire leadership.
Sustainability and futureproofing our technology
One of the most important lessons we have learned is the value of long-term sustainability. In the past, we partnered with excellent tech providers, only to see them acquired by larger companies or shift their business models, leaving us with unsupported systems and uncertain futures. By choosing Microsoft, we have aligned ourselves with a platform that is not only widely adopted but also continuously evolving and supported. This strategic alignment ensures that our department will always have personnel capable of managing, maintaining and improving our digital tools. Microsoft’s commitment to innovation and integration means we can continue to build on our foundation without fear of obsolescence or vendor instability.
The Oklahoma City Fire Department’s experience is a testament to what’s possible when public safety professionals embrace digital transformation. We have moved from paper-based processes to a fully integrated, data-driven ecosystem that empowers our crews, enhances our operations and prepares us for the future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Richard A. Kelley began his career with the Oklahoma City Fire Department in 1991 and was appointed fire chief in September 2017. Over more than three decades of service, he has advanced through every rank in suppression and has held key leadership roles including special operations coordinator, technical rescue station officer, ride-out officer, battalion chief, deputy chief of support services and deputy chief of operations.
Kelley is a certified fire instructor II, EMT, hazmat technician, rescue technician, dive team member and task force leader for Oklahoma Task Force 1. He has also shared his knowledge as an adjunct instructor for the Eastern Oklahoma County Vo-Tech Fire Training Academy, mentoring and developing future firefighters for more than a decade.
Kelley is an active member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Fire Protection Association, Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association. He is past president of the Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association and continues to serve the community through board roles with the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum (ex officio member and Conscience Committee) and the OSU-OKC fire protection AAS and BT degree advisory board.
His career achievements have been recognized with multiple honors, including captain/major of the year (2005) and special operations work section of the year (2006).
Kelley holds an AAS in municipal fire protection and a bachelor of technology in emergency responder administration from Oklahoma State University. He has completed extensive leadership training, including coursework at the National Fire Academy, the Oklahoma Executive Fire Officer Leadership Program (2015) and Leadership Oklahoma City, Class 37 (2018).
