Confusion Delays Crews to House Fire (PRAYERS REQUESTED - Utahn family)

KSL News (transcript) ^ | August 18, 2003 | Samantha Hayes

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

"'IS THERE A FIRE AT YOUR HOUSE?' I SAID YES...AND YELLED INTO THE PHONE, HURRY, HURRY, HURRY."

After several calls to 911, went unanswered ... a South Jordan family waited for help and, watched ... as their house burned, right in front of them.

Confusion at the dispatch center.. left one family waiting for help in the worst of circumstances .... a house fire.

News Specialist Samantha Hayes, is live ... to explain.

The grid system in the Salt Lake Valley usually makes giving directions a pretty cut and dry procedure...

But last night when two calls came in at the same time the east and west coordinates of the two addresses were confused.

The home with the real fire....was left burning....

7:00 Sunday night- smoke is pouring out of the attached garage-just few feet from the house.

The first one to notice...is the 6 year old son of John and Connie Sanine [sic].

"JOHN SANINE [sic]/HOMEOWNER: BY THE TIME WE GOT THERE THE FIRE WAS TOO BIG TO PUT OUT WITH ANY KIND OF GARDEN HOSE."

The family says no one answered when they called 9-1-1.

"ALEXIS SANINE [sic}/DAUGHTER: YOU JUST PANIC, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE ITS ALL HAPPENING SO QUICKLY."

Neighbors were also calling about the house fire.....problem is - it got confused with another call- on the other side of the valley.

"GARY LANCASTER/VALLEY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTER: WE HAVE ONE SAYING WE HAVE ONE ON THE EAST SIDE, ONE ON THE WEST SIDE.....RESPONDING TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE SAME FIRE."

Frustrated, the Sanines [sic] go back inside their burning house to call the South Jordan fire department direct. A short time after- 9-1-1 calls back.

"JOHN: ABOUT MY THIRD TRIP BACK INTO THE HOUSE THE PHONE RANG..IT WAS 911 CALLING TO CONFIRM 'IS THERE A FIRE AT YOUR HOUSE?' I SAID YES- "

The South Jordan Fire Department arrives on the scene first..followed by West Jordan.

The Sanine's [sic] also had help from neighbors...including the former owner of their house.

"BART CRABBE/NEIGHBOR: WHAT'S SAD TO ME IS THEY MOVED IN 3 MONTHS AGO, WE TURNED THE KEYS OVER TO THEM...AND TO COME HERE AND SEE THIS HOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES IS JUST VERY HARD TO WATCH."

35 firefighters eventually put out the blaze in 2 hours...the home has 200,000 dollars worth of damage- which they plan to fix.

The Valley Emergency Communication Center is investigating what happened to see if they are at fault.

The Sanine's say they aren't upset about what happened..they are just happy everyone in their family...including 7 kids are all safe.

Reporting live, Samantha Hayes Eyewitness News.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

This is a transcript of the video link found at: http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=8&sid=43593.

I know these people - the family name is Sasine (Sah-SEEN) - it was reported incorrectly here. I'm in the process of finding out if they need any help such as donated clothing, etc. to get by. In the meantime, I know they are God-fearing people and could use our prayers.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Ping - please keep these friends of mine in your thoughts and prayers.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

The Valley Emergency Communication Center is investigating what happened to see if they are at fault.

And a big old, "Well, Duh!!" to the Valley Emergency Communication Center.

[Alamo-Girl]

I certainly join in praying for your friends!

[Petruchio]

Prayers on the way.

[billbears]

Lifted up in prayers tonight

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Yeah, definitely falls into the "understatement" category!!!

[Utah Girl]

I will. I just watched the late news on KSL and there is a big investigation going on, trying to see why this happened. They're investigating the dispatch company and Qwest (the phone company) to see where the ball was dropped. Small comfort to the family who lost their home.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Thank you - please keep me posted re: any local news about this situation. The good news is that none of the family members were hurt or worse, killed. Imagine, though, getting out of your home only to watch it burn down with no clue as to when the emergency help would arrive.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

KUTV has a video link as well:

http://kutv.com/home/

[T'wit]

Will do, Maddie. Prayer One is thanksgiving that the family are all safe and well.

[ArmstedFragg]

Yeah, definitely falls into the "understatement" category!!!

Not so fast......

Utah towns are generally numbered based on a grid system that, by tradition, used the site of the tabernacle as the starting point. The first street north of it would be 100 north street, the first street east, 100 east, etc.

So.... you have street addresses that are along the lines of 1535 north 100 east street.

I live in a city that has one main street which has both an east and a west component to it, and the local 911 center regularly gets calls from folks who get west and east mixed up. Imagine what the confusion potential is with a Utah address.

The key here was the dispatcher's confusion about which side of the valley the fire was on. That sort of points to a north/south or east/west mixup. We have our share of those, and they're almost always the caller's foulup. Let's see what the tapes show before we assume it's the dispatch center's fault.

[boxerblues]

prayers are on the way

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I definitely agree that the numbering system, as such, can be very confusing. However, the family called 3 times. Once again, I know these people. They are calm, cool, collected people - in fact the dad (John) is what most people would call "laid back". I have a feeling that, when they called 9-1-1 and THEN the dispatch center itself, they were QUITE clear with their address.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

In one of the news videos, the reporter did mention that they were able to save or salvage much of the sentimental things like pictures. My friend would have also have many mementos and trophies from his singing activities as well, which are obviously of great sentimental value as well.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Will do!
rd

[pubmom]

Prayers.

[trussell]

Prayer ping.

Please post your replies to NotJustAnotherPrettyFace.

NotJustAnotherPrettyFace-my prayers added. Blessings

[RJL]

Prayer sent for the Sasine family.

[Pegita]

Father, we praise You that loss is confined to possessions, and not persons. Surround this family with comfort and assurance that You will provide for their every need, for when there is nothing, there is You, provider of all things. Thank You for Your love and mercy, in the name of Jesus, Amen ...