Street Name Mix-Up May Have Delayed Response to Deadly Fire

[Hissyspit]

Source: CBS News

Street name mix-up may have delayed response to deadly fire

CBS NEWS
Mar 6, 2014 9:54 PM EST

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Mayor Steven Fulop said a possible street mix-up may have delayed the response to a massive Jersey City fire that left four members of the same family dead and dozens of other residents displaced.

Fulop said there was some confusion with dispatchers as to the exact location of the blaze, which broke out at 28 1/2 Grant Ave. just after 1 a.m. Thursday.

"The initial call indicated what sounded like 'Grand' with a 'D,' and there was no indicator of street or avenue, which made it difficult for the dispatcher, who initially directed toward 'Grand' with a 'D' instead of 'Grant' with a 'T,' and it could have potentially resulted in a delay," Fulop told 1010 WINS, CBS Radio in New York.

Fulop told WCBS 880 the city is already considering changing the name of one of the streets.
Some neighbors said it took 20 to 25 minutes before firefighters arrived. Fulop said the response time was seven to eight minutes -- about double the usual time.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/street-name-mix-up-may-have-delayed-response-to-deadly-fire

[cosmicone]

1. I thought 911 dispatchers see the address of the phone

on their screens.

Whatever happened to using alpha, bravo, charlie, delta phonetic alphabet?

[CC]

2. Not all systems have

reverse 911 that will show the numbers yet. Also on using Alpha , bravo etc. many people wouldn't have a clue on how or what to use and even more so when under stress though asking them to spell it might of helped.

[OnlinePoker]

3. With everyone on cell phones, this might not work

They would only be able to zero in on the cell tower, not an actual address.