Re: 911:: re being sent to the wrong address

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/8/2004 9:10:22 PM Mountain Standard Time,

mpanitz@... writes:

but the incident is found anyway does

anyone update the info

for the correct address?

in the cad?? yes

in the ani/ali record? yes

kathy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/8/04 11:09:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mpanitz@...

writes:

> my question is suppose someone calls in a fire and gives the wrong

> address

> (which I'll bet happens a lot!) but the incident is found anyway does

> anyone update the info

> for the correct address?

>

>

It would depend on the nature of the incident and the distance between the

old and new locations. For outside fires within a block or two we'd just change

the location. If it's too far away though, we'd create a new incident then

assign closer units.

A stricter criteria would be used for structural fires. In that case we fall

back on the old saying, when in doubt, send it out. I have 62 engines and 39

trucks to play with and I don't pay for the diesel so pass the ball.

I'm a tad confused by the question though. Who wouldn't change the location

if you knew it to be wrong? Am I missing something?

Raffa

Supv. Dispatcher, FDNY

Borough of Brooklyn

Fire Capitol of the World

www.FDNewYork.com

[Guest guest]

You're right, it happens all the time.

As with most any calls for police/fire/EMS, the call-taker has a

number of possibilities to consider on an apparent subsequent call

reporting an incident. Is it the SAME incident but with a different

address? If so, which address is correct? Normally, different but

CLOSE address info will be given to responding units and they will

check both. Or Is it a diffierent - and thus new - incident?

When in doubt you err on the side of caution and treat it as a

potentially new/different incident until it's determined otherwise.

harry

[Guest guest]

I am also confused about why this is an issue. Here, if a unit is

dispatched to an address and can't find the job they will ask for a

call-back. If there is one, and there is a change of address, the unit is

advised, and the CAD is updated. If the unit finds the job at a nearby,

but different address they advise central and the job is updated. If the

correct address is outside the precinct, but in the same division, it is

reassigned. If it is outside the division it is rerouted and becomes a new

job. If it can't be found at all, and the address can not be verified, it

is usually marked 10-98X, unfounded. However, if there were multiple calls

(all with the same address), or the call was very high priority, a unit

might tell central to check with other divisions (and usually suggests

which ones), because of duplicated or similar street names inside boroughs

and between boroughs. This points out a problem in NY.

Unlike the FD, PD dispatchers and call takers are centralized, and usually

have little or no knowledge of the part of the city they are

handling. They rely completely on the CAD information. Often jobs get

multiple dispatches because different callers give a slightly different

address. If the dispatcher was familiar with the area, it would be obvious

it was all one job. Units will advise central that the jobs are

" one-in-the-same, " but until it is sorted out, multiple units may have

been assigned wasting time and resources.