Dora VFD warns its Douglas County residents of 911 issue

The Dora Volunteer Fire Department recently warned residents who live within their fire territory in Douglas County that their new 911 service has caused some confusion during recent emergency situations. 

“…Douglas County initiated a partial 911 emergency line. While the move to a full 911 call center is approximately a year or more away, the new system only works with cell phones,” a fire department spokesperson wrote on the VFD’s Facebook page. 

In the case that an emergency 911 call comes in from a Douglas County residence within the Dora VFD fire or first responder district, the call should be received by Douglas County dispatch office, who then notifies Ozark County dispatch office. An Ozark County dispatcher then dispatches the Dora VFD out to the call, fire officials say. 

But there have been some bumps in the road as Douglas County’s new 911 system has begun implementation. 

When dialing 911, Douglas County residents residing in the Dora fire-rescue protection area need to make sure the call has been connected to the Douglas County 911 dispatch office and tell the operator that the location of the emergency is in Dora’s area.  

The VFD says that 911 calls made from cell phones in Douglas County have recently been directed to Howell County, Texas County, Wright County and other areas instead of Douglas County 911 office. 

“…supposedly this problem has been rectified; however, if you do not make sure you are talking to either the Douglas County or an Ozark County 911 system operator you may add another person to the equation, delaying a response and possibly causing errors in the information relayed to emergency responders.”