Submit Your Close Call / Near Miss
Monday, March 21, 2011 Back in 2009 a fatal derailment and fire occurred when a train hit a washed out section of roadbed. See the report and view the documents to see that part that communications played in this incdient: http://www.ntsb.gov/Dockets/RailRoad/DCA09MR006/default.htm
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 On January 25, 2011 Shaker Heights Fire Department units along with units from Cleveland Heights, South Euclid and Beachwood were operating at the Chelsea Apartments, 3330 Warrensville Center Road Apartment, for a working kitchen fire. The fire was in apartment 508 on the fifth floor. The initial unit on scene, Engine 216, reported that they had a grease fire that had extended into the cupboards above. They had heavy smoke with a little heat or fire. E216 reported that a sprinkler had activated above the fire which had kept the fire confined to that area. Captain Zugan was Incident commander and located at street level in front of the building at the rear of his vehicle (C263). Captain Zugan reported that during the overhaul stage, for a period of 2-3 minutes, he noticed there was a problem communicating on the Channel 2 – Fireground (Zone 29 Eastcom – Channel 2). During this time no one on the fireground was able to communicate. Captain Zugan reported hearing only interference noises like buzzing and clicking. Capt. Zugan observed different radio ID’s appearing on the MARCS radio in the rear of C263 but was unable to hear any voice communication. Inside the building, Lt. Sepesy was operating directly under a flowing sprinkler head. He also heard the interference. He turned his radio off and then back on at which time the interference immediately stopped. Lt. Sepesy reports that his radio was totally soaked from operating under the sprinkler. Lt. Sepesy reporting hearing the transmit tone sounding on his radio. Fireground communications then became fully operational again and there was no further issue throughout the incident. Analysis / Discussion: After reading the complaint forwarded by Capt. Zugan (Exhibit A attached). Lt. Sepesy’s radio was obtained and held in quarantine. We secured his radio in the state it was given to us. We examined it visually only without altering it. It is a Motorola XTS 5000R with a model NMN6193C remote speaker microphone attached. SHFD Portable Radio ID #: 6178 Model ID: XTS5000R Description: XTS5000 MDL II Portable 700/800 Serial #: 721CHF6178 Model # : H18UCF9PW6AN Remote Speaker Microphone Model #: NMN6193C Remote Speaker Microphone Serial #: N/A We inquired into the water proof characteristics of this radio and speaker/mike combination. We found that the radio meets military specs and is submersible. The remote speaker/microphone is rated water resistant only. The team investigated the condition of the cross band repeater on C263 to see if it could have played a part in the interference. The cross band repeater on C263 was found to be off. This cross band repeater only operates between two radios, one in the VHF band, and the other in the UHF band. If the repeater had been activated during the incident it would not have effected the operations on fireground channel 2 (770.1625 Mhz.). We investigated whether any mutual aid companies had any radio equipment activated while they were on scene. No other communities had active repeaters that would have interfered with the operations on fireground channel 2 (770.1625 Mhz.). There are two 700/800 MHz MARCS radios in the back of C263. They were both found to be in working order. We conducted a test of a speaker/microphone of the same model number with water to see if we could cause it to fail. Attaching it to the same model radio, we immersed the head of the speaker/microphone in water and sprayed it with a garden hose. After approximately ten minutes the radio began transmitting intermittently and at some points locked into transmit for longer periods. The surrounding monitoring radios began to buzz and click. To further recreate the situation, additional radios were utilized to recreate other traffic trying to talk on fireground. Radio ID’s were observed on the display of the fireground radio in C263. There was no audio from the other radios simply the ID’s displaying. The next day the same test was repeated. The results were the same. This time members were present who were on scene of the initial event. Members in attendance agreed that the sounds on the other radios were those that they heard that night. Furthermore Captain Zugan also agreed that the sounds and the ID’s flashing on C263’s radio replicated the conditions of the Chelsea fire scene. On the second day of testing, another speaker/microphone was tested. The Motorola Remote Speaker Microphone model number PMMN4038A has a 30 minute submersible rating. It is recommended for firefighting use by Motorola. We tested one of these mikes by submersing it for approximately 50 minutes and spraying it directly with a hose. We could not cause it to fail and it worked perfectly at the end of the water test. The suspect radio and speaker/microphone were sent out to Motorola Solutions for radio examination. We asked Motorola to look the radio and remote speaker microphone for any problems. The radio was examined and found to be working properly within specifications. There was no sign of water intrusion into the radio. Motorola believes that there was nothing wrong in the radio that would have caused the problem that was encountered. The remote speaker/microphone was examined by Motorola. They found that there were signs of water intrusion and corrosion inside the remote microphone. They stated that this could have caused a malfunction. Findings: Our findings are that the heavy water drenching of a remote speaker/microphone that was water resistant only and not rated for the conditions encountered at this scene caused this communication failure. The drenching caused the microphone to lock into the transmit mode thereby causing interruption of communications on the selected channel. Recommendations:
Monday, March 7, 2011 While the story cited at this link involves law enforcement personnel, ALL emergency services need to be concerned about staffing at their dispatch centers. Whether through so called "furloughs", the failure to fill vacancies, or in this case outright layoffs, an increasing number of 9-1-1 centers are operating well below marginal levels. The end result? Longer wait times for callers, hurried work, and not enough people to monitor every channel. Read this, then find out how your local PSAP stands because your life does depend on it: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/article_b8d19b30-45c3-11e0-8c61-001cc4c03286.html
Monday, March 7, 2011 A rural Iowa mother's last call was to 9-1-1 as she and her child succumbed to smoke and gasses in a house fire. You can find the audio here (the telephone call is under item #3):http://www.dps.state.ia.us/commis/pib/Releases/2011/03-04-2011_WheatlandFire911Audio.htm Also, follow the link regarding the media considerations for release of 9-1-1 recordings. In light of the number of states conmsidering restrictions, this is very timely reading.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011 A series of events delayed an interior attack at a fatal NY blaze, according to the NY Times. Among the identified issues was the simultaneous assignment of one engine company to two assignments. Although normally part of the first alarm response, one crew was assigned by another dispatcher to assist a wounded police officer next door to quarters. Read the whole story at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/nyregion/22fire.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion
Saturday, February 19, 2011 911 officials concerned over staffing shortages, calls placed on hold By Isadora Vail | Monday, February 7, 2011, 06:52 PM More than 6,000 callers to Austin’s 911 line received a recorded message instead of a live operator last year, according to the Austin Police Department’s emergency communications manager. Callers were placed on because of a shortage of 911 operators and a high volume of calls at one time, Marcia Brooks said. The city received about 815,346 911 calls in 2010, she said. Brooks told Austin Public Safety Commission members Monday that she did not know the severity of the emergencies or the duration of the wait times because of the limits of a reporting system the police 911 call center installed in 2009. She said by this spring more data should be available and more reliable. The new system was approved by the Capital Area Council of Governments, Public Safety Commission officials said. “The new reporting system didn’t pan out the way CAPCOG planned,” Brooks said, “but they are doing their best to try to obtain a better report.” Currently, Austin has 79 full-time emergency operators who take 911 calls and route them to the proper agency, Brooks said. There are an additional 12 temporary positions. However the turnover rate is extremely high, she said. “We are in need of about 25 more full-time positions and have not had a position added for 10 years,” Brooks said. She said she couldn’t say why the city didn’t hire the operators it needs. “There’s a big gap in staffing shortages,” said Michael Lauderdale, the chairperson of the commission. “I think this is something we will revisit, but we have to wonder how adequate the service is.”
Saturday, February 19, 2011 With the clock ticking on the FCC's mandate to convert certain spectrum to the narrow band mode, here's a link to an FAQ of sorts on the subject: http://www.lrkimball.com/ResourceCenter/7.16.0838_39NarrowbandArticle.pdf
Saturday, February 19, 2011 February 16th marked the 43rd birthday of the national emergency number. It's been more than four decades since the first 9-1-1 call was made in Haleyville, Alabama, but much of the infrastructure that supported this call and millions like it hasn't changed much since then. Many states are now engaged in "Next Generation 9-1-1" planning, which will lead to an almost complete change in the way calls aredelivered and handled, with an eye on including the features that many citizens now take for granted in their "phones". Now is a great time to get involved and find out what's going on in your corner of the world. This is certainly a "when" and not "if" issue.
Saturday, February 19, 2011 By Elizabeth Dinan edinan@seacoastonline.com February 01, 2011 2:00 AM Read the rest of the article here: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20110201-NEWS-102010397 PORTSMOUTH — Fire Chief Christopher LeClaire said he's instructed his family in the event of an emergency to call the local fire station, not 911. That's because bypassing 911 means the call goes directly to local responders, instead of the state emergency dispatch center in Concord, he said. "The statewide 911 system is definitely the way to go," said LeClaire, but it's one that needs to be improved. The fire chief is critical of the state's emergency protocol, which has dispatchers asking 911 callers multiple questions for details about a sick or injured person's medical condition before notifying local ambulance crews. If, for example, someone is choking, the protocol has the state dispatcher then giving detailed instructions for administering the Heimlich maneuver, he said. As a result, increased ambulance response time is "a common complaint that we hear," LeClaire said. "I think there needs to be a simultaneous way to immediately dump the call while gathering information," he said. David Rivers, acting chief of operations for New Hampshire's Bureau of Emergency Communications, said the simultaneous system already exists, but few first responders are using it. Rivers said, when state dispatchers enter information about 911 calls, it's available to municipalities electronically and in near real time.
Monday, January 31, 2011 During the course of a working fire in an eight story high rise, all radio communications were blocked due to a faulty radio. In this instance the incident was de-escalating however due to the nature of this if we had been operating in a more aggressive mode all companies may have been compromised. The Engine Co officer had been operating under a flowing sprinkler head which thankfully held the fire in check until the standpipe stretch was made. During this time he said that his radio had been soaked by the water flowing. It was at approximately the same time that no one was able to communicate via radio, the fire-ground radio channel we use sounded like there was an open mic. The Incident Commander was able to see who was calling him on the faceplate of his mobile radio in the Command vehicle but no voice was heard. The engine officer noticed that his radio was making buzzing and clicking sounds and he turned it off which then allowed all communication to begin again. This whole scenario lasted several minutes. The very next day tour Fire Marshal and the LT. who handles radio maintenance began to look into the problem. The examined the suspect Radio and found no obvious visual defects. They then gave the radio a dousing with water and were able to replicate this scenario exactly. What we found- Our department is in a consolidated dispatching center with numerous cities. After being awarded a sizeable grant a few years ago, all radios for the cities were upgraded to a digital radio that operates on the MARCS system. When the equipment was purchased the lapel mics specified were not water resistant and not rated for firefighting use. Since the incident all lapel mics have been removed and are being replaced with water resistant firefighting rated mics. Fortunately this incident was past the initial stages and was de escalating when the failure occurred. Thankfully no one was hurt- this time
Tim Wynkoop Photo
Thursday, January 27, 2011 Northampton County Director of Emergency Management Services Bob Mateff said his office is investigating the report that miscommunications may have delayed firefighters' response to a devastating fire this morning in Forks Township. The fire destroyed a two-family dwelling at 4340 North Delaware Drive. Three people escaped the fire without injury; the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley is assisting two families displaced by the fire, according to a news release. Clark Eick III, of Forks Township, is the property owner, according to county records. The first call about the fire bounced to Warren County officials, who alerted Northampton County, according to Forks Township Fire Chief Chuck Chapman. Upper Mount Bethel Township firefighters were dispatched, but they couldn't find the blaze, he said. A Pennsylvania State Police trooper eventually found the fire in Forks and township firefighters were called in, Chapman said. Bryan Maynard, one of the destroyed dwelling's residents, said it took about 40 minutes for firefighters to arrive. He lost everything in the fire. Mateff’s office is speaking with Forks Township and Warren County in an effort to pin down how the miscommunications came about. "We're going to get to the bottom of this and make sure actions are taken to prevent this from happening," he said. The investigation should be completed by Friday, he said.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 Motorola recently announced a formal split into two companies; one to pursue its consumer electronics line such as cell phones, and the other to continue its public safety market. Solutions, as the public safety entity will be known will remain in Schaumburg. Mobility will relocate to a nearby community. There will probably be little, if any, immediate impact on departments doing business with Motorola, who has been in the business since the 1930s.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 Two new federal reports on 9-1-1 are available. For an update from the DOT on national inititatives surf to: http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102135368713-84/2010+Annual+Report+to+Congress+Biden+Letter.pdf Information from the Congressional Research Servics is online at: http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102135368713-85/CRS+Report+-+Broadband+and+Future+of+911.pdf
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 The typing of the wrong street suffix into the City's CAD system led to a four minute delay in response to a house fire in Pittsburgh right before Christmas. There were no injuries, but two dogs died in the blaze. A similar call from the past also involved this same street when an EMS call was delayed even longer. Catch the coverage at: http://www.wtae.com/r/26256244/detail.html
Thursday, December 23, 2010 The Federal Communications Commission has opened Next Generation 9-1-1 for public comment. Public safety agencies should make use of this opportunity to help guide the Commission in their decision-making process in the months to come. A copy of the text of the FCC press release follows: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: December 21, 2010 Robert Kenny: 202-418-2668 Robert.Kenny@fcc.gov FCC TAKES FIRST STEP TO HELP REVOLUTIONIZE AMERICA’S 9-1-1 SERVICES FOR CONSUMERS, FIRST RESPONDERSRapid Sharing of Videos, Photos and Data to Improve Emergency Response Washington, D.C. -- The Federal Communications Commission today took an important step to revolutionize America’s 9-1-1 services for consumers and first responders by adopting a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeking public comment on how Next Generation 911 (NG911) can enable the public to obtain emergency assistance by means of advanced communications technologies beyond traditional voice-centric devices. The FCC has undertaken this proceeding in response to a recommendation in the National Broadband Plan seeking to harness the life-saving potential of text messaging, email, video and photos from mobile and landline broadband services. Despite the fact that there are more than 270 million wireless consumers nationwide and that approximately 70 percent of all 9-1-1 calls are made from mobile hand-held devices, today’s 9-1-1 systems support voice-centric communications only and are not designed to transfer and receive text messaging, videos or photos. In some emergency situations -- especially in circumstances where a call could further jeopardize someone’s life and safety -- texting may be the only way to reach out for help. In addition, many Americans, particularly those with disabilities, rely on text messaging as their primary means of communication. The sharing of timely and relevant videos and photos would provide first responders with on-the-ground information to help assess and address emergencies in real-time. For example, these technologies could help report crimes as they are happening thus giving law enforcement officials an increased advantage when responding. The NOI asked a comprehensive set of questions that address a number of issues related to the deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1 services, including, but not limited to:
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