By Nancy Tullis, The Review
Original publication date: Dec. 17

New Cumberland, Ohio — Commissioners and Hancock County 911 Director Tracy Lemley lauded the efforts of dispatchers during the explosion and fire Dec. 9 at the AL Solutions Inc. industrial plant in New Cumberland.

Brothers Jeffery Scott Fish, 39, and James E. Fish, 38, of New Cumberland were killed in the explosion.

A third worker, Steven Swain, 27, of Weirton, died Monday, a representative from the Allegheny County (Pa.) Coroner’s Office, told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Lemley said dispatchers on duty were Betty Waide, Tim Steele, Teresa Watson and Andrea Hoffman. They all worked through the situations, calling out fire departments and other emergency responders, including a medical helicopter.

New Cumberland police Chief Lester Skinner said that day that Lt. Jeremy Krzys was first on the scene and reported hearing the blast while sitting at the traffic light along West Virginia state Route 2 – several blocks away from the business. Krzys drove immediately to the plant at 605 South Chester St.

Krzys made the initial 911 call and quickly called for fire and medical units, including the medical helicopter, Skinner said. Firefighters from all over the Tri-State area responded to the emergency.

Tom Zielinsky, county technology and communications director, said the communications system worked well. It was a team effort on the communications end to get the help that was needed at the scene.

Zielinsky noted the dispatchers coordinated efforts of initial responders, but back-up crews as well.

With most of the fire departments in the Northern Panhandle at the scene, the dispatchers also called in units from Ohio and Pennsylvania to cover their stations, he said.

Posted with permission of The Review.