Newly-released recordings show hydrants were in short supply as crews battled a huge recycling plant fire on E. Marine View Drive. Equally troubling, some firefighters thought new dispatching software might have made the problem worse.
As flames roared into the sky surrounding the huge fire at the recycling plant, neighbors worried about the burning embers floating down precariously close to their roofs.
"The ladies down here, they were watering their houses with hoses just in case it did come down," said Clay McCulloch, who kept a close watch on the shifting winds so his own house would stay safe.
It turns out that getting water on the fire was a challenge because the property is fed by a private hydrant system. First responders said 911 dispatching software called New World didn't help during the crisis.
"Just be advised I'm having issues," one emergency worker can be heard saying as he tried to page back-up to the scene. "The software's not recommending any more units when I increase the alarms."