Palm Springs residents concerned about lack of brush fire communications
Multiple agencies are investigating a 22-acre fire that burned Thursday night on Tramway Road and Highway 111. Fighting the blaze was a joint effort between seven agencies, but residents who spoke with News Channel 3’s Kelley Moody are calling that effort a silent one. They said no one notified them of the threat.
ORIGINAL STORY: Fire crews put out fire near Palm Springs Tram
“I think we should be contacted as soon as the fire department discovers a raging fire,” said Herb Lewis. “We need to know.”
Lewis has lived in Palm Springs for eight years. This is the third fire to happen near his home in the last year: another in April and before that in November 2018. After such a wet winter, he is concerned there’s more to come.
Lewis said the solution is simple.
“An automated phone call for the neighborhood. Set it up. It can be done. It’s done in other places.”
The city of Palm Springs does offer an emergency notification system that sends out text and voice messages to residents who sign up online, but those who we spoke with said no notification was sent out on this fire.
The fire was contained at 22 acres around 6:30 a.m. No structures were damaged, and no one was injured.
