PLYMPTON– Although it never affected Plympton’s 911 service, handled by the Regional Old Colony Communications Center in Duxbury, last Saturday’s torrential downpours apparently knocked out the business line of the Plympton Fire Department.
It is still not working as of press time.
Captain John Sjostedt has taken to Facebook to communicate with the public. According to him, 911, which should be used for emergencies, and 781-585-0783, a direct line to the fire station which can also be used for emergencies, are both in working order.
The business line for the ROCCC in Duxbury also works.
But the business line for the PFD, 781-585-2633, rings twice and then goes to an error message stating that the number is out of service.
Capt. Sjostedt, reached via email, said, at first that this was a technical problem at the ROCCC.
The director of the ROCCC, Michael Mahoney, said that it was a problem in Plympton.
“We are more than capable of handling any emergency calls at our center,” said Mahoney. “I believe it is an internal problem [at Plympton] and they have technicians on it.”
Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy said Monday night that Verizon, the town’s telephone provider, is looking into the issue.
The Express contacted Verizon for comment, and Verizon stated they would look into the issue.
But after contacting Verizon, Sjostedt followed up and stated that he didn’t believe that this was a Verizon problem at all.
“It is actually not a Verizon issue,” he said. “That’s part of the hang up. There is another service involved and I’m having difficulty figuring out who the other involved company is.”
Internet searches reveal the number to come back to the PFD, but do not report which phone carrier issued the number.
Always call 911 in an emergency, officials say.