“This day in age there’s no threat like that, that you can’t take seriously,” said Rob Streck, chief deputy with the sheriff’s office.
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The 20-second threatening phone call by a male said he was going to “shoot up the fire department … wait till I get my gun. Now I warned all y’all (sic),” reads the sheriff’s report. He then hung up.
“It’s concerning,” Streck said. “Fire and EMS, they’re service providers that do everything they can to keep us safe, keep our families safe.”
After the emergency dispatcher alerted the on-duty supervisor, that sergeant alerted the sheriff’s office, according to Streck. Then all police and fire departments in Montgomery County were notified of the threat.
All departments were notified, Streck said, because the threat did not list a specific fire department.
“Some fire departments had law enforcement on with them on calls, some of the fire departments locked down,” Streck said.
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Other fire stations ensured all access doors and garage bays were closed and locked.
Miami Valley Fire District Battalion Chief Andy Harp told News Center 7's Sean Cudahy that his fire stations have been advised to stay alert and keep their garage bay doors closed.
The investigation is ongoing to identify who made the threat.
Streck said law enforcement do sometimes receive similar threats, but it’s easier for officers and deputies in the field to have an immediate ability to protect themselves.
“The fire service is a little different; they don’t go around with firearms and less lethal options on their belt, than law enforcement does,” Streck said. “To hear that some of our local brethren in arms is being threatened with really no defense, it really concerned us and we want to make sure that those that are out protecting our families, that we protect them.”
For the latest on this threat and response of fire departments, watch WHIO-TV starting at 5 p.m. today, Feb. 20.
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