New 911 radio system passes test of fire

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April 30, 2008

By FRANK SOJAK The Tribune-Democrat Wed Apr 30, 2008, 10:20 PM EDT

Cambria 911’s new radio frequencies lived up to their billing during their first major test Wednesday morning at a house fire in Twin Rocks.

Firefighters were called to the Waldron residence on Station Road just after 6 a.m. when a fire spread from a first-floor fireplace to the walls on both sides of the chimney and then up to the second floor, said Rich Brown, assistant chief of the Nanty Glo Volunteer Fire Company.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire quickly, he said.

Mr. and Mrs. M.L. Waldron and their children escaped safely, Brown said.

The fire was the first major incident since the new frequencies were activated Tuesday night.

The new frequencies performed flawlessly for firefighters, Brown said. They were able to communicate to Cambria 911 in Ebensburg perfectly with their portable radios while fighting the fire.

Because of the terrain in that area of Station Road, in the past a portable radio signal would not have been strong enough to reach Ebensburg. Therefore, a firefighter would have had to run back to a fire truck and use a more powerful mobile radio to talk to the 911 center, Brown said.

The Waldron house, which is insured, sustained moderate damage, Brown said.

Also responding were volunteers from Ebensburg, Revloc and Colver.

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