On Sept. 10, John Pequeno’s Upper Nazareth home, at 3300 block of Rising Sun Court, was destroyed by fire. No human lives were lost, but Pequeno did lose a pup named Marshall, whom he referred to as his “fur baby.” “The rest of what was lost was mostly just stuff,” he said. Nine different fire departments ultimately responded. Pequeno has been so touched by their heroic efforts that he organized a fundraiser for what he calls the Rising Sun Fire Brigade. As commendable as these volunteers are, the Rising Sun inferno may very well have highlighted a major problem in the way Northampton County’s 911 Center responds to fire calls.

Bath’s Volunteer Fire Department is located just 1.2 miles (4 minutes) away from 3300 Rising Sun Court, an Upper Nazareth community with no public water. Despite its close proximity, Northampton County Council member Matt Dietz reports Bath Mayor Fiorella ‘Fi’ Reginelli-Mirabito told him her Borough’s volunteer firefighters received no initial fire call.

In contrast to Bath, Upper Nazareth’s Volunteer Fire Department is located 6.2 miles (14 minutes) away from 3300 Rising Court. This was the first department dispatched, followed by Nazareth’s Vigilance Hose Co. That department is located 5.3 miles (13 minutes) away from the blaze. According to Bath Borough Manager Bradford Flynn, Palmer Tp’s fire department was dispatched to the Rising Sun inferno before Bath finally received a call. Palmer Tp’s fire department is 6.6 miles (12 minutes) away.

Wouldn’t it make sense to dispatch the closest fire department?

Dietz met recently with Bath firefighters, and reported to Northampton County Council at its Sept. 19 meeting. He felt it important to note three concerns they have about the 911 Center. He adds they tried calling the 911 Center, but received no answer until some recent emails. These are their issues:

(1) Closest department should be dispatched to an emergency. - During callouts, it’s only logical to dispatch the closest emergency vehicle responding.

According to Dietz, vehicles with longer response times are instead being dispatched. He said there could be an emergency call from the west end of Pen Argyl, right next to Plainfield, and Wind Gap emergency vehicles would be sent. Dietz said 911 should consider dispatching the station closest to the emergency, regardless of mutual aid agreements.

This sentiment is echoed in a September 18 email to Dietz from Bath Borough Manager Bradford Flynn.

“Over the past four years, I have personally witnessed or know of instances where Bath’s Fire Department or EMS Provider/Bethlehem Township EMS is not being initially dispatched to working structure/dwelling fires or life threatening ALS calls respectively within their immediate reach. This unnecessarily delays patient care, protection of property, and degrades the overall public safety mission in our area. In my opinion, the days of mutual aid agreements designed and executed by and between neighboring fire chiefs should be stream-lined through automated systems. Northampton County 911 should have the capability of using CAD systems and GPS resources to synchronize emergency incident locations, linking the location with Fire and Rescue Services to an appropriate 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Alarm, etc. protocol within a designated geographic footprint.

(2) Bath firefighters are missing callouts their older radio system. - They believe this problem affects other municipalities, too.

“That’s not something that we’re seeing broadly and is not something that’s been brought to our attention,” responded Administrator Charles Dertinger. He added the 911 Center is still using both its new and an older radio console to respond to emergency calls. “The new one has not had all of the bugs knocked out of it yet,” he explained.

This would mean that Bath’s issue is because of their own equipment, and would have been an issue before the switch to a consolidated 911

“It’s their equipment that the County programmed for them,” countered Dietz.

He’s concerned about this issue even of it only applies to Bath. “Saying it’s not broad and someone dies in Bath because it’s a localized issue is not a good answer,” he said.

Detinger wondered why this issue is only being presented now .Dietz responded the 911 Center was contacted several times and only answered a few days ago. Because of this lack of a response, Bath officials reached out to Dietz, their elected representative on Council.

Dertinger vowed to look into this concern.

(3) Bad Directions. - In response to a recent cardiac arrest, 911 was dispatching emergency vehicles the wrong way because a bridge in the Bath area is out. Dietz questioned whether 911 is aware some bridges are being repaired or replaced, making alternative routes necessary.

Dietz felt it was important to alert his fellow Council members, the Administration and the public He also said he will be contacting other municipalities as well as 911.

Council member Tara Zrinski then switched the topic to the airport’s escalators. “Not that 911 isn’t really important,” she said with what appeared to be a bit of misplaced sarcasm. “No one wants to die in Bath,” she added.

“No one wants to die anywhere,” countered Lori Vargo Heffner, who was filling in for an absent Ron Heckman as council president.

“Council doesn’t care that we’re fixing escalators,” said Dietz after the meeting,. He added they do and should care about 911, a core county function.