2 Dispatchers Suspended Over Fire Response

Despite fire department claims that a delayed response didn’t affect the outcome of a Jan. fatal fire, Fort Wayne (Ind.) comm center officials have suspended two dispatchers without pay for their mishandling of 911 calls. Comm center director Tina Taviano said that Denise Smith, a 10-year veteran, and Amanda Brune, a 2-1/2 year employee, were suspended without pay for 12 days and four days respectively. A woman and her four and five year-old sons died in the blaze at an apartment bulding. Taviano said both dispatchers failed to ask the caller if she were on East or West Jefferson Blvd. The fire was on East Jefferson, but fire units were sent to the same address on West Jefferson. Taviano would not explain why the suspensions were different for the two employees. Taviano did tell a reporter, “Most importantly, these are truly dedicated, compassionate career professionals. These are good employees. We pride ourselves on striving for perfection.”