Those dispatchers were in Jefferson County, where the Lower North Fork fire, which started as a prescribed burn, wound up torching more than six square miles and killing three people. But Denver 911 also has its problems: On April 1, a Denver operator told Jimma Reat, who'd called to report a road-rage incident, to return to the scene to wait for police -- which he did, and was killed for his efforts. Denver officials held a press conference the next day to discuss the incident.
Four days later, 911 responded on the second ring.
"What's your location?" the dispatcher asked.
"Colorado Boulevard near I-70."
Without missing a beat: "Are you calling about that weed fire?"
"So others have called?"
"Yes. And the truck is on the way."
In the few minutes that weed fire -- possibly caused by a lit cigarette being thrown from a car, an act that was made illegal back in that last big fire season a decade ago -- had flared up, it turns out 911 had received several calls from newly sensitized civilians.
And Denver's operator, perhaps also newly sensitized, provided a clear, quick response.
As we drove on, we heard the sirens approaching.
More from our News archive: "Lower North Fork Fire photo gallery: Symbols of blazes to come?"
