LOS ANGELES (AP) – Los Angeles fire officials say they’ll upgrade their 911 dispatch center to work with neighboring fire agencies.

Chief Brian Cummings told the Los Angeles Times editorial board Wednesday that the move will help city residents who may be closer to available rescuers from other areas.

The department is in the early stages of developing a computer system designed to work with neighboring dispatch centers.

For the plan to work, neighboring agencies will have to pay up to $14 million for similar upgrades to be installed over three to five years.

Los Angeles’ city and county fire agencies agreed to link their dispatch centers in 1979, but never did.

Fire Commission President Genethia Hudley Hayes says the plan would save a lot, but there’s an upfront cost.