Emergency personnel struggle to communicate in upstate New York, and officials say there’s an “urgent need” for a 200-foot tower to fix the issue. Firehouse reported that a rural part of Amherst, NY needs the tower, with officials seeking up to $2 million in COVID-19 relief aid to fund the project.
According to Amherst Supervisor Brian Kulpa, emergency calls are on the rise, and new safety protocols stemming from the pandemic require improved communication for firefighters, police, and emergency medical teams. “I have had fire chiefs at working fires not be able to communicate with people inside a burning building,” Kulpa told Firehouse. “It’s unacceptable.”
How bad is the communication gap? Firehouse reported the lack of coverage prevents first responders from communicating during an incident “even if they’re close enough to see each other,” as close as 100 feet, per a documented account. Neither radio equipment nor cell phones are reliable – both need towers to provide satisfactory service.
According to the town, the gaps can result in a “critical loss” of response time. Responders are “dealing with more calls, and more volume and they’re operating in a black hole,” Kulpa said.
Regarding colocation on the tower, Kulpa added, “If a broadband carrier decided to colocate on there with us, I’d be okay with that. Because we definitely have broadband issues up in that area.”
The Town Board voted to certify an urgent need for the project, allowing the town to pursue the funding through the state, reported Firehouse. According to Kulpa, if the money is awarded, tower construction could begin in 2023.
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