[Scanner] Emergency radio still flawed

[WORKSNTV at aol.com]

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2005/02/12emergencyra
dios.html


By  PATRICK JACKSON / The News Journal 
02/12/2005
For Claymont Fire Chief  Eric Haley, Nov. 10, 2001, was almost a 
nightmare scenario. 

Six of  his firefighters were trapped on the second floor of a 
Brandywine Hundred  home and were unable to communicate because of 
problems with the state's  emergency radio system. 

"It was scary. One of my best friends was in  there," Haley said. "I 
couldn't make out what he was saying, but by the tone  of his voice, 
I knew something was wrong. We were fortunate that everyone  got out 
and none of the firefighters were hurt." 

It wasn't the first  time the state's $50 million 800 megahertz 
emergency radio system gave  Claymont firefighters a scare. 

In June of that year, two firefighters  were trapped for three 
minutes in the basement of a burning home because a  tripped circuit 
breaker had knocked out a signal amplifier needed to help  emergency 
personnel talk in a "dead zone." The computerized radios turned  
voices into electronic squeaks and squawks.