First responders in Colorado’s mountain towns are receiving wave of unfounded texts for help from satellite-enabled iPhones
At least 10 Colorado 911 dispatch centers have received emergency texts from iPhones saying people were trapped, lost or on fire
Hugh Carey/The Colorado Sun
The text landed at Grand County’s 911 dispatch center Friday afternoon.
“Trapped by fire” it read, pinging a location near the remote Meadow Creek Reservoir.
The 911 text from an Apple iPhone came through the company’s new satellite technology, which enables users out of cellphone range to use passing satellites to send text messages.
“We have not had one of those before, so we triggered a pretty healthy response,” said Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin, who rallied his search-and-rescue team, fire department, law enforcement and emergency services 40 minutes up a rural dirt road to the reservoir.
And there was no fire. Or anyone needing help.
Read more from Jason Blevins at ColoradoSun.com.
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