Utility Companies MUST Solve This For The Safety Of Customers

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 3272

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Mar 22 2013 8:48 AM

DOTHAN:   This morning Dothan 911 Center received a 911 call about a residential fire on Murphy Mill Road inside the Dothan City Limits. Multiple Dothan Fireman rushed three firetrucks, police officers, and ambulance to the scene.

The first person on the scene was a Dothan Police Officer. The officer reported to the 911 Center "smoke visible" on his arrival on the scene.

When you have a reported fire and smoke is visible, well smoke comes from fire. When the fireman hear "smoke visible" the "A" game of the fireman steps up.

Fireman connect to the fire hyrdrant in order to have ample supply of water. The fireman determine an electrical fire and begin to tear out the walls around the electrical panel. Dothan Fireman report "heat" around the electrical panel. The fireman need the power to the residence cut in order to get the fire out.

Utility companies have territory areas. In fact when The Highlands was designed Wiregrass Electric went to court in an effort to protect their territory. Wiregrass Electric did not want Dothan serving The Highlands area which was in Dothan City Limits.

This morning when Dothan 911 Center reported a 30 minute arrival time Dothan Fireman called for Dothan Utilites. In essence Dothan Fireman were saying "we have an active fire that involves electrical, we need the power off NOW". However, Dothan Utilies reported to the 911 Center they could not cut the power without the permission of Wiregrass Utilities.

Someone has failed when there is no agreement. What if there was a building on fire with people trapped inside. However there was a hot power line on the ground in front of the exit and no one could get out and the fireman could not get in. The utility provider is Wiregrass Electric, however there was an Alabama Power Compnay truck sitting at the traffic light at the fire. What is more important, territory or life?

This morning the fireman were in danger of putting out the fire because of electricity. The structure was in danger because of territory of utility companies. And Dothan 911 in attempting to get a faster response the answering service will attempt to contact Wiregrass Electric dispatch to attempt to contact responding utility worker.

Not accepable.

 

 

 

 

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