Everett mayor blasts tech company for dispatch failures

Fri., June 17, 2016

Associated Press

EVERETT, Wash. – After a glitch delayed dispatching of backup firefighters to a three-alarm warehouse fire, Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson has criticized the technology company responsible for the system.

The Daily Herald reported Stephanson sent a letter on Wednesday to New World, saying the company’s recent troubles are “simply unacceptable” and putting people in danger.

The June 4 warehouse fire glitch delayed backup crews for nearly 23 minutes and was blamed on a malfunctioning computer screen button.

New World’s emergency dispatching software has been in place in Snohomish County for 8 months in two 911 dispatch centers.

Officials said New World has provided what should be a permanent fix for the second-alarm issue from the warehouse fire and that the system performed correctly during a two-alarm fire on Wednesday.

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Everett mayor blasts tech company for dispatch failures

Jesse Tinsley

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