911 Calls Made During Fire Released
The Jefferson County Sheriff?s Office has released hours of 911 recordings during the outbreak of the Lower North Fork Fire.
The calls illustrate the concern, confusion and fear of residents in the fire?s path.
The first several calls were concerned citizens reporting heavy smoke and fire, to which the 911 dispatchers responded, ?That is a controlled burn. The forest service is out there on scene with that.?
One of the first few calls was placed by Sam Lucas. Lucas was killed, along with his wife, by the Lower North Fork Fire.
During the call Lucas reports sighting smoke in the area, and when he is told it is from a controlled burn Lucas responds, ?You know we?ve got 79 mph winds up here, and they?ve got a controlled burn??
There were several calls that brought attention to the confusion caused by an error made in the reverse notification system.
Dispatcher: If you received the call you need to leave the area. Caller: Really? Dispatcher: Yeah. Caller: Even though I?m nowhere near there? I?m at Kipling and 285. Dispatcher: Oh, you?re kidding!
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff?s Office, the reverse notification was sent out, in error, to those not in the fire?s path. After verifying the caller?s addresses and assessing whether or not they were supposed to receive the evacuation notification, dispatchers explained to callers ?You should not have gotten that message. A lot of people got it in error. Looks like you got that evacuation notice in error. So, you can disregard it.?
The calls quickly began illustrating the reality and severity of the scenario. One caller reported to the dispatcher, ?I?m in my driveway. The fire has burned through. I think I?m safe, my house may be burning. Yes, it is.?
Another caller expresses his fear for his family?s safety saying, ?My family is stuck at the end of Kuehster Road. There are people stuck at the end of Kuehster Road and they can?t get out!?
There were also calls made from residents concerned about loved ones and neighbors.
?She?s a young thing and she?s got cancer. She?s on chemo, and she?s not, she hasn?t answered the phone. We know the fire went right through the neighbors. She had her stuff packed to leave. The car had a flat tire.?
This call was placed concerning the well-being of Ann Appel, another victim of the fire.
As of Monday, firefighters reported that after burning more than 4,000 acres, the fire was 100 percent contained.
