Firefighters urge residents to dial 9‑1‑1, not the station, for emergencies
DOVER (WJER) (Jan. 20, 2026) – Fire officials are reminding the public of the importance of calling 9‑1‑1 when an urgent emergency response is needed, rather than contacting a fire station directly on its business line.
Fire Captain Mike Mossor says the department has recently received an increase in emergency calls made to the station’s regular phone number—calls that should have gone to 9‑1‑1.
Mossor says when someone calls 9‑1‑1, the dispatcher at the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office can immediately send firefighters to the scene while staying on the line with the caller.
However, calling the fire station directly can slow down the response. Firefighters must remain on the phone with the caller before they can leave, and in some cases still need to contact the sheriff’s office or police to report the emergency before responding.
Officials stress that dialing 9‑1‑1 ensures the fastest response and allows emergency crews to get on the road as quickly as possible.