911 Dispatcher Got Call That Own House Was On Fire!

For 11 years, Mike Bowes has been working as a 911 dispatcher for the Quincy Police Department in Massachusetts. He's heard of everything from baby deliveries to deaths, but this call was probably the most shocking to him: it was someone reporting that his own house was on fire!

My neighbor's house just blew up, the caller said.

"What's the address?" Mike Bowes asked patiently, just as he did with every emergency call for the past 11 years with the Quincy Police Department.

The caller frantically relayed the address, Bowes' home address for 20 years.

"It was shocking," Mike Bowes said. "I thought she was kidding. It's a long shot. I mean, what's the chances it will be your house?"

Link (Photo: WHDH)


I had a somewhat analogous experience many years ago while teaching at Indiana University. I relayed the story on my blog:

http://squidjig.blogspot.com/2007/01/fire-bear.html

Doc Rock
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