Issues with calling 911 !

[wayne foundation 07]

This morning a detour brought to work a different way to work, and it was a good thing for somebody. I saw what I thought was somebodies burn pile burning as I drove down the road and after a second thought , I was thinking it looked pretty close to the house . I turned around and pulled into the drive way and saw the deck to the side of the house was on fire. I parked back away to stay safe, got out my phone to call 911 as I hurried to the house. It took about 6 or 7 rings for the lady to answer the phone, asking "what my emergency was" I gave her the address and told her the house was on fire. She then asked "what fire department would you like me to contact" REALLY lady your asking me I don't know. She put me on hold, and after banging on the door and ringing the doorbell , I was able to wake the guy up. Would you answer your door at 3 in the morning ? I wouldn't have .
I told him his deck and siding was on fire , and asked if he had a hose or fire extinguisher, he had a hose in the garage. The 911 operator finally came back and connected me with who ever she thought was closest , gave the address and explained the situation and she hung up, didn't seem to concerned to stay on the line. We managed to drag the deck furniture away saving some of it, and getting the fire out by ourselves. Nobody police or fire showed by the time I was leaving. Never called or used 911 before, ,maybe I just got someone on a bad day, but it atleast it had a good ending for the guys house.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Wow, that's nuts. I've had to call 911 a few times locally for things I spotted, and the response was very fast. So I think that operator deserves to be fired, or at the very least reprimanded.

Chris

[Brown Bear]

You're a hero. Plain and simple. That could've ended a lot worse had you not stopped to do the right thing.

[MIB41]

Man you are a real hero!!! You not only saved that man's house, you most likely saved his life! Great job!!!

[Mikey]

Do they direct 911 calls to India ?

[samurainoir]

wow! that's nuts. I recently came across this 9-1-1 fail video. frightening how these kind of things can happen in this day and age with all our technology at our fingertips, especially in life and death situations like this.

[Brazoo]

That's crazy. You are awesome, by the way!

I wonder if you can access your 911 call and submit a complaint? I thought in the US 911 calls were public record or something?

[cjefferys]

So I guess Flavor Flav was right after all...

[Sideshow Spock]

That's crazy. You are awesome, by the way! I wonder if you can access your 911 call and submit a complaint? I thought in the US 911 calls were public record or something?

I echo both sentiments here (you being awesome, and pursuing a complaint). Becuz that 911 call definitely needs to be reviewed by the proper authorities. If you're so inclined, you could also reach out to local media and tell them the story..

[mego maniac mark]

Thank goodness you did what you did. I applaud you, great deed you did for that person.
It may have turned tragic had you not awoke him and he had to wait for he fire department has someone else called 911.

[Confessional]

Wild save! Good work!

Oh and Flav was right… some years back I dialed down to report a crazed pit bull that chewed through a neighbors wood fence and proceeded to jump on the hood of my truck Cujo-style. When he gave up on trying to break through my windshield, he jumped off to pursue two small children running and screaming down the sidewalk. The 911 Operator asked me if the dog had drawn blood. I responded, "Not yet, but it's about to maul two young kids," to which she replied, "Well, we just can do anything unless people are bleeding." Thanks for nothing! <Click!>

[hedrap]

Excellent on your part.

Depends on where you are in OH. A number of dispatch centers have been merged, some are even outsourced. IMO, it sounds like you ran into the latter.

[wayne foundation 07]

I stopped to see the damage in the daylight on the way home from work, and all in all everything looks fixable. Gary said the fire department thought it started when the wire running under the deck to the fountain in the pond shorted out. Freaky huh,they . I told him I was surprised he opened the door that early in the morning, and he said he had his gun with him , and laid it down on the side table when I told him what was going on. I have an open invite to go fishing in their pond when ever I wanted, didn't have the heart to tell them I don't fish.

[PNGwynne]

You're a hero. Plain and simple. That could've ended a lot worse had you not stopped to do the right thing.

Yes, kudos to you for being a Good Samaritan.

[enyawd72]

Way to go SuperBen! Or SpiderBen...or whatever your super hero name is! You deserve your own custom Mego!