UPDATED @ 5:26 PM with Photos and video 4:36 PM Working Structure Fire In Slocomb

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 4700

Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
334-790-1729
Date: Apr 01 2020 4:50 PM

SLOCOMB:   Geneva County 911 dispatched Slocomb Fire and multiple other departments to a working structure fire.

The fire location is 207 Railroad Avenue in Slocomb. At the time of the fire being dispatched and on the arrival of the first fire engines smoke and flames visible with flames out the roof. Reports when dispatched two vehicles in the driveway.

Slocomb Fire Chief Kyle Hovey is on the scene. Fireman from Slocomb and Fadette are on the scene. Some fireman have made a interior attack of the fire.

They have reported an all clear meaning no one inside. Water is on the fire.

Alabama Power was requested ( during working hours ) to respond to cut the power. Geneva County 911 was advised by Alabama Power to call back in ten minutes and they would try and get them an estimated time of arrival of utility truck.

Malvern Fire is also enroute.

RICKEY STOKES RANT

It is impossible to accurate response times from Alabama Power. Someone sent me a message the trucks were to large for the employee to drive them home and the fire being at night they had to go get the truck. They also mentioned the utility were not first responders.

I took issue that first responders are:   LAW ENFORCEMENT - FIRE - EMS - UTILITY. 

When power lines are down  on a house, power to house on fire, power lines across a vehicle where people are trapped and injured, who has to be there first in order for EMS to do their job?  I have personally picked up dead people who came in contact with live power lines and delivered death messages their loved ones were dead from live power lines.

The emergency services has zero problems with Wiregrass Electric in getting prompt response, no issues with Dothan Utilities. 

But Alabama Power is the owner of Southern Linc and Alabama Power will not hook their workers up with the emergency 911 Centers. In fact Alabama Power got a law passed that the State of Alabama has to use Southern Linc radios.

Whoever challenged me, it is during the working day. At 4:35 PM when Geneva County 911 told Slocomb they had to call back for a estimated time of arrival. It is 4:48 PM and still no estimated time of arrival.

UPDATED @ 4:50 PM   

Slocomb Fire Chief Kyle Hovey asked Geneva County 911 if they ever got an estimated time of arrival of Alabama Power. They advised negative but would call again.

Chief Hovey requested they make it a priority because they are waiting on Alabama Power to get the fire out. It is around the power head and can not put fireman on it until the power is out.

UPDATED @ 4:53 PM   

Slocomb Fire Chief Kyle Hovey just notified Geneva County 911 they had power cut. No mention how power was cut.

UPDATED @ 5:01 PM

RICKEY'S RANT PART TWO  

Chief Hovey only advised Geneva County 911 "we got power cut". He did not say who cut the power. 

Matt Boster is on the scene so I text and asked him. His reply was Alabama Power, which I do hope they appeared and he did not guess.

The most important critical element in the emergency circle of events is the 911 Communications Center. The radio, internet and communications link.

It is often times the most neglected by those in charge. That is until something happens.

There is a reason a 911 Center calls Alabama Power and requests and ask for estimated times of arrival. There is a reason that information is given to the units in the trenches doing the work. 

ALABAMA POWER this is a ongoing problem in multiple counties. Get it fixed.

<- back