An Upstate fire chief is calling on Laurens County to come up with more funds for the area's fire departments.
The chief of the Waterloo fire department says their 9-1-1 system is so bad--it could soon start costing lives.
Chief Robert Wiser says, pagers, more than a decade old, and a lack of update radio towers means many of his firefighters cant communicate with dispatch or each other.
"It's very aggravating," he says.
The chief says about 80 percent of the departments calls are medical emergencies.
He admitted--some of those calls have been missed, due to responders not getting the call for help.
When crews have been on other calls, such as downed trees or fires, he says he has had to use his own cell phone to call for backup.
When asked: "Do you think its only a matter of time until someone loses a life?"
The chief replied: "Yes."
Cortni Childs, a firefighter with the department said, "If someone tries to call 911, and {dispatch} cant get to us--what are we supposed to do? We cant get there to save their life."
She told a story of being inside a house fire, while she and a fellow firefighter called for help outside: "Me and my partner went into a house--we were trying to bring the guy out.--my partner radioed in--'hey--I need help with the back door--break the back door down for me--I need it now'. They never heard us."
The county's Office Of Emergency Management is in charge of requesting the money needed.
This is hardly the only department in need of upgrades, but the department feels the community should know the dangerous situation they are in.
The chief just hopes the next missed call won't have fatal results.
We spoke with the director of Laurens County Emergency Management.
Joey Avery says the county has improved communications for its law enforcement division.
And he says, they plan to do the same for the area's fire departments.
He says grants have been submitted for funds.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement