[PBARC] 911 tower collapse-Jonesboro

[WOLF, EARNEST G]

FYI - 
 
Thanks,
 
Glenn

In war: resolution. In defeat: defiance. In victory: magnanimity. In peace: goodwill. - Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill 
 


City communications tower falls


By Stan Mitchell 

JONESBORO -- A 540-foot City of Jonesboro communications tower crashed to the ground Tuesday afternoon at the municipal landfill off Strawfloor Drive, officials said at the scene. 

The collapse cut off radio communications for the Jonesboro police and fire departments until backup systems could be put in place. Temporary measures to restore full communications are expected to be in place sometime today. No other agency lost service. 

The cause of the tower's collapse was under investigation. Sources on the scene said they have conflicting reports on how the tower fell. 

Landfill employees allegedly told investigating officers that a large gust of wind was apparently the cause. However, tracks from heavy equipment were observed in the mud near a set of tower guy wires that appeared to have been severed. 

Jonesboro Police Detective Dewayne Pierce was conducting a investigation Tuesday afternoon. 

The top and middle section of the tower separated during the collapse, with one part falling to the east and the other to the south of the foundation pad. The wreckage was a tangled mess of bent metal and twisted guy wires. 

Bob Andrews, director of the city's Emergency 911 system, said the tower fell about 1:30 p.m., shutting down some communication lines between city police and fire departments. 

Andrews added that the city lost its 800 megahertz communications system, but was using a lower band frequency to dispatch officers and firefighters to emergency situations. Police were also using cellular telephones in their efforts to communicate with one another, Jonesboro interim Police Chief Tim Eads said. 

Interim Fire Chief Aaron Keller said his department activated a separate backup system that uses an antenna on Indian Stadium at Arkansas State University. 

"We still have communication between our officers and we can still dispatch calls," Andrews stressed. "We're using radios that were loaned to us by the Craighead County Sheriff's Department and Alltel loaned us some 30 cellular phones to use." 

The biggest problem was having all the city's police officers sharing a single frequency with the Sheriff's Department. JPD normally utilizes seven different channels, but the antenna for the police department's backup radio system is located on the tower that fell, Andrews said. 

Andrews said he hoped to have normal radio operations up by late today. City employees were not allowed to retrieve any working parts of the tower until an insurance adjuster had a chance to inspect the scene, he said. 

Andrews also said he was working with Arco Towers of Jonesboro to add 100 feet to a nearby abandoned tower that could be used until a permanent tower is constructed. 

Brian Wadley, operations manager for Mayor Doug Formon, told the City Council's Public Safety Committee Tuesday that the governor's office has pledged its assistance. 

Craighead County received a $3 million grant as one of the first counties in the state to pilot the Arkansas Wireless Information System, a voice and data network that will allow local officials to talk to emergency officials anywhere in the state. 

That system will require construction of additional towers in the county. Because of that, Andrews said the city will have more options in the event of a future crisis.