By Mike Hoover
The Evening Sun
YORK, Pa. — A fire chief said Thursday he will investigate a breakdown that rendered emergency communications between York and Cumberland counties crews “inoperable” during a Newberry Township fire that left two families homeless.
Firefighters were called just after 8 a.m. Thursday to Miller’s Trailer Park in the 300 block Ridge Road, where they found a fully involved shed fire, Lewisberry Fire Chief Mark Albright said.
Serena Brown said she was sleeping when she heard a noise, looked outside and saw the shed burning. Brown grabbed some clothes, a blanket and her 3-year-old daughter, Alexis, and ran.
The fire devoured the shed and spread to three trailers, heavily damaging two and melting the siding off the third.
“I’m glad we got out. That’s all that matters,” said Brown, who has renter’s insurance.
A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause.
Albright said he intended to address his concerns with York County 911, which has had communication issues since switching to a new digital system in late 2008.
“That was a major issue,” Albright said.
He said he wants to determine whether the communication problem had any impact on crews’ response times.
The communication system was working, said Eric Bistline, executive director at 911. Firefighters and emergency service personnel know to call 911 to report any issues, which generates a trouble ticket and an investigation, he said. As of 1 p.m. Thursday, no ticket had been generated. Bistline could not be reached Thursday evening.
Bistline said York County 911 did have trouble making initial contact with Cumberland County 911. Because of their proximity to Newberry Township, Cumberland units were dispatched.
“Why that was . . . maybe they were busy,” Bistline said of the initial problem. “We had no radio issues we are aware of.”
Since the digital system switch, emergency responders have complained about communication, reception and transmission problems. Bistline said there is a continual performance review to improve the system.
Brown, who has lived in the park for five years, hugged her daughter as crews put out the blaze.
“There is nothing I can do now,” Brown said. “It is just horrible.”
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