Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Colorado’s 911 professionals have been there for us, 24/7.
They have prioritized our health and safety over their own by continuing to work in close quarters, often without access to vital personal protective equipment. They have dealt with constantly changing emergency-response protocols and surges in calls about domestic violence, mental-health crises and serious at-home illnesses. They have navigated quarantine-induced staffing shortages and, in most communities, including ours, no ability to work from home. Like other first responders, they have sacrificed and persevered so that when anyone dials 911, someone is there to help.
Sadly, while the federal government and statehouses across the country have designated 911 professionals as essential workers throughout the pandemic, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Standard Occupation Classification System categorizes public safety telecommunicators the industry term for frontline 911 professio
Changes are coming to Eagle County’s alert system. As of Feb. 1, most mobile alerts will require an app from EverBridge, the system’s vendor. (Daily file photo)
You may have read that Eagle County’s alert system is changing as of Feb. 1. Here’s why:
In a recent presentation to the Vail Town Council, Vail Public Safety Communications Center Director Marc Wentworth said the main issue is money.
The Eagle County E911 Authority Board since 2014 has contracted with EverBridge for alert services. The cost is roughly $28,000 per year. Wentworth said EverBridge is changing its billing model. That means the old system of sending out text messages and emails will have to change. In fact, the cost of sending text messages could roughly triple unless changes are made.
Eagle River Fire Protection District/Special to the Daily
At about 1 p.m. on Thursday, Eagle River Fire Protection District crews were dispatched to a report of smoke from a structure in a large single family residence on Spring Creek Place in the Cordillera Valley Club area of Edwards.
Due to the complexity of the fire’s location, it took several hours of thermal heat tracing and overhaul operations before crews were confident in calling the fire out Thursday afternoon.The property was unoccupied, and no injuries were reported. The cause is still under investigation.
A person passing by reported smoke but no flames coming from the eaves of the structure, according to the ERFPD. Firefighters from Engine 12 reported seeing smoke from U.S. Highway 6 as they responded, and once on scene, they immediately accessed the roof to begin an offensive attack near a chimney. The roof was opened up, and a deep-seated fire was traced back to an adjacent chimney, with the fire reaching to the
Eagle River Fire Protection District recommends decorating your home safely for the holidays.
At about 4 a.m. on Thursday, Eagle River Fire Protection District crews were dispatched to a report of smoke in a structure in a townhome on Deer Boulevard in EagleVail. Crews were able to knock it down in about 30 minutes, thanks to an offensive attack.
The unit was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. The cause is under investigation; however, it appears the fire originated in the area of the fireplace hearth, according to a news release from ERFPD.
ERFPD and Vail Fire & Emergency Services responded, and were assisted by the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle County Paramedic Services, Eagle River Water & Sanitation District and Vail Public Safety Communications Center.