JIM51
All that you say is correct. And I'm sure the counties in the area can have their busy moments, but they are not alone. Go visit some 911 county centers where a standard first alarm response involves 4 states and 5 counties, two interstate highways and a major river with lots of water sports. And all the fire/ems services are volunteer.
They handle things quite well - even when summer storms create havoc on land and in the river. But they have trained, drilled and established protocols, visited other busy centers and take agressive action when needed. Maine is new to county-wide 911 for the most part and they have a lot to learn. Let's hope Franklin and Oxford don't blow this incident off, but instead use it as a stepping point to better service.
There usually is more cooperation out in the "countryside" but doesn't look the case here. If the fire was reported in or near Dixfield but called in to Franklin County, Franklin should have dispatched Carthage and mutal aid request for Dixfield from Oxford County, not Weld that was actually dispatched along with Carthage. Weld is further away from the suspected location than Dixfield!
I'll bet the farm that the "running assignments" don't show Dixfield due at all on the first alert unless requested in that area of Franklin County. Stone age dispatching/firefighting.
County-wide dispatch centers should always have radio contact with adjacent county centers. Dispatch centers I'm familiar with always contact the adjacent county when their is any doubt about location - and boths side respond towards each other till the incident is located. In this case you would have had more personnel/equipment at the site faster than if one company responds, finds a working fire than asks for help.
Maine 911 centers and fire depatments need to always ensure that the closest emergency apparatus is always dispatched. That's not always the case - some towns/cities don't like others "intruding" unless they ask them - dark ages fire fighting mentality. But the citizens don't care what the helmet shield says - they want the closest person who can help them responding to their location.
And one does wonder if the 911 call taker tried to keep the person on the line - or try to get a call-back number. This whole episode sounds like poor protocalls at 911 - don't blame consolidated county call centers. Blame the people who set-up the protocalls - and that includes pro-active fire chiefs who want the job done right!
EdG's Comments
JIM51 All that you say is
JIM51
All that you say is correct. And I'm sure the counties in the area can have their busy moments, but they are not alone. Go visit some 911 county centers where a standard first alarm response involves 4 states and 5 counties, two interstate highways and a major river with lots of water sports. And all the fire/ems services are volunteer.
They handle things quite well - even when summer storms create havoc on land and in the river. But they have trained, drilled and established protocols, visited other busy centers and take agressive action when needed. Maine is new to county-wide 911 for the most part and they have a lot to learn. Let's hope Franklin and Oxford don't blow this incident off, but instead use it as a stepping point to better service.
There usually is more
There usually is more cooperation out in the "countryside" but doesn't look the case here. If the fire was reported in or near Dixfield but called in to Franklin County, Franklin should have dispatched Carthage and mutal aid request for Dixfield from Oxford County, not Weld that was actually dispatched along with Carthage. Weld is further away from the suspected location than Dixfield!
I'll bet the farm that the "running assignments" don't show Dixfield due at all on the first alert unless requested in that area of Franklin County. Stone age dispatching/firefighting.
County-wide dispatch centers
County-wide dispatch centers should always have radio contact with adjacent county centers. Dispatch centers I'm familiar with always contact the adjacent county when their is any doubt about location - and boths side respond towards each other till the incident is located. In this case you would have had more personnel/equipment at the site faster than if one company responds, finds a working fire than asks for help.
Maine 911 centers and fire depatments need to always ensure that the closest emergency apparatus is always dispatched. That's not always the case - some towns/cities don't like others "intruding" unless they ask them - dark ages fire fighting mentality. But the citizens don't care what the helmet shield says - they want the closest person who can help them responding to their location.
And one does wonder if the 911 call taker tried to keep the person on the line - or try to get a call-back number. This whole episode sounds like poor protocalls at 911 - don't blame consolidated county call centers. Blame the people who set-up the protocalls - and that includes pro-active fire chiefs who want the job done right!