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Board hears concerns about fire dispatch and response coordination with Erie County
Summary
Board members and staff described confusion about how 911 and the town’s non-emergency line route calls through Erie County dispatch, and requested county personnel attend a follow-up meeting to clarify dispatch procedures and late-response incidents.
Grand Island board members discussed recent concerns about fire-call routing and late response times, and requested further information and a follow-up meeting with Erie County dispatch staff.
Board members described how emergency 911 calls route first to Erie County dispatch, which then transfers the call or dispatches local resources. A board member asked, "If someone calls 911, it goes through the Erie County system... the only way it goes to town dispatch is if you call the 773 [nonemergency number]," and noted the nonemergency line is sometimes mistakenly given out for emergencies.
Participants said that for a confirmed fire or EMS call identified as being on Grand Island, the county transfers the call to the town side next door, and then the local dispatcher or fire hall dispatches the ground company. Board members questioned why local communications staff did not detect a call routed through county channels that later led to delayed local response and asked county representatives to explain whether local dispatchers have access to sheriff or county radio traffic and how paging/alarms are coordinated.
Board members said they had received “abrasive” emails from the county about the incident and asked that Erie County public safety staff attend the next meeting to answer technical questions about dispatch protocols and whether equipment or programming gaps contributed to the late response.
No formal action was taken during the workshop; board members asked staff to continue outreach and to schedule a county dispatch representative for the next meeting so the town can understand whether system or staffing issues explain the delay.
