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WILDFIRES IN BREVARD, VOLUSIA  ARSON SUSPECT ARRESTED:» Says He "May Have" Started Fire » Slideshow Of Arrest | Raw Video » Mug Shots Of Suspect Brian Crowder  WILDFIRE BLOG:Talk About What's Going On  VIEWER-SUBMITTED PHOTOS:See Fires In Brevard County  911 CALLS:Dispatchers Swamped | Listen To Calls DONATE: Space Coast Credit Union and Kennedy Space Center Federal Credit Union are both accepting monetary donations; Community Educators Credit Union is accepting monetary donations as well as those of new, not used items. All donations will go directly to victims and responders in Brevard County. |
911 Dispatchers Swamped With Calls Reporting Wildfires
POSTED: 4:31 pm EDT May 13,
2008
UPDATED: 5:04 pm EDT May 13,
2008
PALM BAY, Fla. -- Palm Bay dispatchers received more than 2,000 calls to 911 during the height of the wildfires Monday. And at one point, emergency responders in Brevard County were getting a call every two minutes.
911 CALLS: Dispatchers Swamped | Listen To Calls
At certain times, operators couldn't to get all the phones so callers were forwarded to other agencies.Kent DeVault has been with the Palm Bay Police Department for more than a decade and said he had never dealt with that many calls or that many people needing help."We try to calm themdown, and tell them we will get to help as soon as we can," said DeVault.Several calls came from callers who shouldn't have dialed 911, including a woman who wanted to encourage police to find the person who may have started several of the blazes.Callers with tips on who set the fires should call CrimeLine at 1-800-423-TIPS.
911 CALLS: Dispatchers Swamped | Listen To CallsAt certain times, operators couldn't to get all the phones so callers were forwarded to other agencies.Kent DeVault has been with the Palm Bay Police Department for more than a decade and said he had never dealt with that many calls or that many people needing help."We try to calm themdown, and tell them we will get to help as soon as we can," said DeVault.Several calls came from callers who shouldn't have dialed 911, including a woman who wanted to encourage police to find the person who may have started several of the blazes.Callers with tips on who set the fires should call CrimeLine at 1-800-423-TIPS.
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