PORT HADLOCK — Human error caused a temporary communication glitch during the response to an arson fire early Thursday that destroyed a four-unit condominium unit in Port Ludlow.
Firefighters and emergency response teams could not hear dispatch directions when a communications officer used the wrong radio channel, said Tracy Stringer, Jefferson Communications 9-1-1 director.
“Other means were taken with no delay,” said Stringer.
“The fire’s course would not have been changed.”
Realizing that there was a problem within a few minutes after taking the call, the dispatcher on duty used a law enforcement radio to coordinate firefighting efforts.
The communication officer handling the Port Ludlow emergency calls has worked in dispatch for six years, Stringer said.
The Jeffcom director withheld the name of the dispatcher blamed for the error, saying information about whether any punitive measures will be taken is a personnel matter.
‘Human errors do happen’
“It’s unfortunate that it has occurred but human errors do happen,” Stringer said.
“We’ve retrained all of our staff individually to make sure it will never happen again.”
