Los Angeles Fire Agency to Fix Emergency Dispatch Glitches

The Los Angeles Fire Commission has allocated emergency funds to fix glitches in the city’s emergency response system that are delaying the dispatch of firefighters and paramedics.

The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that a woman bled profusely for 45 minutes on March 7 while waiting for paramedics after a factory machine sliced off one finger and mangled the others. The delay was caused by a brief failure in the fire department’s dispatching system.

Firefighters say the system problems are recurring and have created confusion at fire stations, forcing dispatchers to deploy old backup plans.

Fire commission President Genethia Hudley-Hayes says the panel will address equipment breakdowns and response times at its meeting Tuesday.

Officials say the dispatching system is aging and was recently moved.