COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — Radio communication issues in Cocke County are impacting first responders there. With little to no service in some areas, emergency personnel are facing trouble calling for backup or reaching other agencies.
Walt Cross has been the fire chief at the Grassy Fork Fire Department for around 16 years. The volunteer fire department is one of six in Cocke County. He said radio communication problems in the county have been impacting first responders.
“We can’t talk to each other — fire to fire, fire to rescue, fire to dispatch," he said.
Chief Cross said the radio communication problems have been a historic issue.
“Our challenge is we are in the mountains,” he said. “So, there are areas where we have poor, or no, coverage.”
Some of the areas with poor issues include Grassy Fork, Del Rio and Long Creek. Cross said the spotty service does not just impact the fire department.
“If law enforcement gets into a bad situation and they need backup, and they can’t call for backup," he said.
However, Newport Utilities does have proper coverage in Cocke Co. after increasing its towers and repeaters. Cross said the company has offered to allow first responders to put their antennas and repeaters at those locations.
“They are putting a proposal together, which we will have by next week," he said. “We will have what the cost will be and that will be up to the county to come up with the revenue to purchase that and then put it in place.”