In Our View: Making Contact

Just as some people still get lost in an age when global positioning systems provide precise navigational data, some people also have difficulty talking to each other in an age of advanced communication technology. And when a communication breakdown involves agencies in charge of public safety and public health, the problem is even more perplexing. But that’s what happened in the Columbia River Gorge last week when a firefighting team, with Vancouver Fire Chief Don Bivins serving as liaison, had difficulty reaching officials with the Southwest Clean Air Agency.

In retrospect, this problem illustrates the great need for all agencies to cover all bases, keep databases updated and understand other agencies’ roles and responsibilities.

The fire command team determined on Saturday, Sept. 22, to let a fire at the former Co-Ply mill in Stevenson burn itself out. That decision was made based on several factors pertaining to substances burning at the site and how water used to fight the fire could contaminate property and the river nearby. But officials with SWCAA, which enforces air quality rules in five Southwest Washington counties, later ordered fire crews with the wood-products company to douse the fire. With the help of rains, that was accomplished, but early this week air-quality and firefighting officials were blaming each other for the lack of communication.

Bivins insists his team tried hard and often to contact SWCAA. Part of the problem involved the fact that SWCAA changed its name seven years ago (from Southwest Air Pollution Control Authority), and officials at the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA), which was contacted by the firefighting team, say they did not receive new contact information after the name change. As a result, SWCAA did not attend a meeting at which the decision was made to let the fire burn itself out.

We trust that Bivins, SWCAA Director Bob Elliott and leaders of the other agencies will thoroughly review the communications problem and work to prevent a repeat of the problem. More important than ascertaining blame is to maximize the use of modern technology and figure out, first, why one or two cell phone calls could not have been made.

A good source to conduct that debriefing and find solutions is CRESA, which does a great job of coordinating emergency response and communication among more than two dozen agencies in Southwest Washington. “Even with modern technology, people still make mistakes,” said CRESA Assistant Director John Talbot on Wednesday. “When people are involved in emergency work, it’s difficult to make things happen perfectly and quickly. But we have to keep trying.”

We trust that Bivins, Elliott and other officials involved in the gorge fire decisions will huddle with CRESA to make sure that, next time, communications will be instant and effective. As Bivins said, this story “points to a need for better understanding I expect to follow up on that, to make sure (SWCAA officials) understand how we do our job and to understand what their concerns are.” UNMAPPED FIELD__ root_SnippetRoot_cflo_textst_prst_EDIT quote_prst__ =__ “EDIT quote” UNMAPPED FIELD__ root_SnippetRoot_cflo_textst_prst_EDIT quote_pcnt__ =__ “Officials with all agencies involved are highly trained, with great expertise.”

Originally published by Columbian editorial staff.

(c) 2007 Columbian. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.