The NYPD & FDNY announced a temporary change to the controversial new 911 system Friday, following a tragic fire which left a family dead in Brooklyn last week.
Some have questioned the FDNY’s response time to the blaze, after fire units initially showed up a block away.
Someone from a nearby school saw flames shooting out of the apartment’s window and dialed 911, saying, “I do not know the address. I’m inside a building. I’m looking out the window and there’s a fire out the window.”
The caller than gave the wrong intersection.
Almost immediately, a controversy sparked regarding the city’s six-month-old 911 system.
The firefighters’ union complained that the Unified Call Taking System is not effective. With the new system, when someone calls to report a fire, a police dispatcher answers and sends an electronic message to a fire dispatcher.
The FDNY implemented a temporary fix Friday. Now, a fire dispatcher will also listen in on the call to ensure firefighters get the vital information they need. The goal is to provide additional training for police dispatchers still familiarizing themselves with their new responsibility.
“Enough is enough. People are dying and I have people who can do a professional job for the citizens of New York and they’re using people who can’t do that,” said David Rosenzweig of the Fire Alarm Dispatchers Benevolent Association.
Officials say the change isn’t expected to increase response times, but will help call takers get accurate information before heading to a scene.
The change starts Sunday and will be in effect until the fire and police departments say it’s no longer necessary.
(Source: NY1)
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2 Responses
The new system is a total disgrace. Both Mayor Bloomberg (or would he rather be addressed as “king”)and the Fire Commissioner should both be ashamed of themselves to allow and encourage the changes that have been made to the fire dispatch system. To allow non-FDNY dispatchers to be responsible for all fire calls is totally irresponsible. There is a suggestion that all fire calls be routed through a new “511” system and I am in total agreement with that as long as the FDNY remains in control. As an example of the current administration’s foolishness, New York City spent an exhorbitant amount of money to update the dispatch center in Staten Island only to close it in favor of using the Metro Tech location. What a waste!!!!! Lives of all NYC residents are seriously in jeopardy because of the arrogance of the Mayor and the foolishness of the outgoing Fire Commissioner. Hopefully, whoever will be appointed as the next Fire Commissioner will be someone from within the ranks of the FDNY and have the courage of conviction and knowledge to correct the wrong that has been done.
Why is a Fire Dispatcher inherently so much better at getting an address than a Police Dispatcher?
Somehow I think this has more to do with the Fire Dispatchers’ union saving jobs.
But creating a “511” is silly and expensive.