USFA: Y2K rumors false
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has discounted as false two rumors concerning the failure of fire service equipment in the Year 2000. The first erroneous report originated with an emergency services unit at a federal facility in New Mexico and claimed that emergency vehicle ignition systems would not work on January 1, 2000. The second report, resulting from a “misquote” of an official of the Baton Rouge (LA) Fire Department, expressed concern that aerial ladders would fail. The reports were investigated by the General Services Administration and disproved.
The USFA Web site, www.usfa.fema.gov, lists current Y2K information pertaining to the fire and emergency services community. The USFA continuously assesses fire service operations and public safety communication networks for Y2K information. The National Association of State Fire Marshals is assessing a representative sample of fire departments in all states, and the National Emergency Number Association is asking for input from Public Safety Answering Points. Fire and emergency organizations can comment directly by accessing the USFA Web site
