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Supervisors, fire chiefs warn of extended radio outage after microwave path failure; staff to escalate vendor efforts
Summary
Augusta County officials and fire chiefs reported an outage affecting the microwave link at Troxel Gap that has degraded communications between some fire departments and the 9-1-1 dispatch center. County staff said vendors (Motorola and Clear) have been engaged but parts for the microwave path are scarce; chiefs warned of public-safety risks and
Augusta County supervisors and emergency responders said a microwave link at Troxel Gap went down in early March and that the resulting degradation in the countywide radio system has left some volunteer fire departments unable to communicate reliably with the emergency communications center.
Multiple speakers described the problem as affecting Craigville, Middlebrook and other areas. Fire chiefs said portable radios and walkie-talkies experience static or cannot reach the emergency communications center unless a vehicle radio (with higher output) is used to relay messages. Chief witnesses said this direct-impact on ability to call a mayday is a public-safety concern.
County staff and supervisors said the county’s emergency-communications staff (Amanda, named in the record) has worked with Motorola and Clear and has escalated vendor efforts. Speakers reported the principal technical barrier is an unavailable microwave replacement part for the path; one account in the meeting said technicians had suggested the only source for the needed microwave unit may be secondary markets such as eBay. Bridgewater’s chief contacted contacts in Pennsylvania who indicated they could assist with parts or repair; other vendor contacts and state resources (VA DM and telecom vendors) have been engaged per staff notes.
Supervisors and chiefs said the outage has persisted for weeks (speakers referenced early March and continuing through the meeting). Board members asked staff and counsel to press vendors to locate parts or alternatives and to escalate procurement or legal options if vendor obligations are not met. County staff said they would “turn the heat up” to push vendors and were looking at interim options; the chief from Bridgewater reported contacts who believe they can source parts.
Why this matters: The outage reduces direct radio contact between some field units and the 9-1-1 center, increasing operational friction during incidents and risking delayed dispatch or missed emergency calls. Chiefs said talk-around and on-scene person-to-person channels still allow local coordination but that getting information back to command and the emergency communications center requires vehicle radios or alternative relay arrangements.
Next steps: Supervisors directed staff to continue escalation with vendors, to investigate alternate microwave paths or equipment and to report back to the board. No formal procurement action was approved during the meeting; staff requested authority to accelerate vendor engagement and to pursue needed parts or technical fixes.
