Emergency Crews Running Into Problems Locating Addresses

From the moment someone dials 911, the clock begins ticking for emergency responders.

However, in some parts of El Paso County, finding the actual emergency can be a problem.

Captain Roger Esparza with the West Valley Fire Department says it takes longer for rescue crews to get to addresses out in the county, something that happens far too often.

The issue is that out in the county, there are no regulations that govern how a homeowner must display his or her address.

Captain Esparza says his crews run into this problem approximately every three emergency calls. On Monday his crew responded to a gas leak call at a certain address, but what was written on the home’s mailbox was a set of incomplete numbers.

Our ABC-7 camera crew also noticed other address problems throughout west El Paso County, from a sign that was in bad shape to a house with its numerical address spray-painted on a rock. This same home happened to have a different number drawn on a wooden cross beam.

However, some residents are trying to help emergency crews out by doing their part.

Jerry Knotts put up a manufactured sign, saying he wants to make sure rescue crews won’t have any trouble finding his place.

First responders would like everyone to follow his example. Officials with the West Valley Fire Department plan on working with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to counter the address problem.